This little girl is quite comfortable in the crate with the Essex pups at the Cape Girardeau Petco, during the Sunday adoption event for the animal shelters at Safe Harbor in Fruitland and the Sikeston Shelter.

Thanks to efforts from a number of dedicated volunteers, the Essex pups are frisky and healthy and ready for adoption. Originally, there were eight beagle-mix pups in a rainbow of colors - fawn, red, black and white, and solid black - and I think there are at least five still looking for homes.

I saw them Sunday afternoon, when I helped Marilyn Neville puppy-sit at the Petco store in Cape. We set up two crates just inside the door over by the dog grooming window. All afternoon I shuffled puppies, while children and adults stopped by to cuddle pups and talk about dogs. Periodically, two other volunteers and I (one from KFVS) shuttled puppies out of the crate and over to the Sonic lawn for their potty breaks.

I met some special people, as well as a bunch of very sweet-natured pups. There was one black and white pup named Bogey that I really wanted to take home with me, but he may have attracted a Cape couple, who would like a companion for their one dog at home. I really wish the best for these abandoned pups and their foster parents, who give so much to help unwanted animals.

Please consider the Sikeston Animal Shelter and Safe Harbor at Fruitland when you're looking for a dog. Like Sun Dog in Bloomfield (for cats), these volunteers work SO HARD and give of their time and their own money to help animals which can't help themselves.

I also cannot think of a better place for you to donate funds to help in this thankless battle to combat ignorance and carelessness in our Southeast Missouri region. I hope one day that all citizens of our state can miraculously turn into kind, caring, responsible pet owners, who have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered, who pick up those sad strays along the side of the road, and who give unselfishly to the shelters.

Numbers for the shelters are: Sikeston - 573-471-4801, Safe Harbor - 573-243-9823. Keep in mind that these shelters operate on practically no funds, so they can't fully staff their offices; you may have to call several times before you get a real human on the line. Just keep trying!