Victoria Cowper says she runs a “jigsaw puzzle of an organization.”

Jackie Leatherman/News-Herald Photo. Elroy sits in his kennel at the Western Arizona Humane Society.

Cowper heads the Western Arizona Humane Society — the only safe haven for animals in Mohave County.

The Humane Society of the United States declared the first full week in November as National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.

Here’s a quick look at our local shelter and what it takes to keep the lights on and the doors open.

Animal Care

It takes about five people to clean, feed, do laundry, and keep up on vaccines for the roughly 80 kennels at the Lake Havasu City shelter at 1100 Empire Drive.

They observe each animal daily to track its behavior and any potential medical conditions. They make sure the animals aren’t fighting with each other and ensure they are taken out and exercised regularly.

Animal Care and Control

Three officers, who are contracted with Lake Havasu City, provide mobile care and control services to respond to the public’s complaints, questions, and calls for picking up animals, whether it is a scorpion or a dog. The officers also are responsible for licensing all of the animals within the city.

The officers work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

They are trained in how to approach strange animals, and how to handle upset neighbors who complain about neighborhood pets.

The Front Counter

As the first line of defense for any business or organization, the roughly three office employees deal with a gamut of emotions from elated families adopting their first pet to grieving owners having to put one to sleep, to angry residents who are upset about a pet in the neighborhood.

They answer phones, and all inquiries, keep the office clean, advertise new pets up for adoption, process shelter paperwork, and track pledges and donations.

“It takes somebody who is flexible, compassionate and has the ability to multi-task,” Cowper said.

Pet Resort

A new WAHS program started in 2005 provides professional boarding and grooming at 1075 Aviation Drive. With two full-time employees and one groomer, the resort can hold about 30 pets, depending on size. The resort feeds, cleans, walks, and observes the pets.

“It’s like being in day care,” Cowper said.

Wags to Riches

A new 2,400-square-foot thrift store at 1055 Aviation Drive opened in December 2008 to solicit donations and re-route proceeds back to WAHS. There are new retail items as well as other furniture, clothes and dishes donations. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Volunteers

“We cannot provide the kind of animal care we do without our volunteers,” Cowper said.

Volunteers come to the shelter every single day to help clean the cages and walk and feed the animals. The volunteers also help with fundraising and events. “We need more,” she said.

Kingman

The at least 40-year-old facility in Kingman received an interior facelift this past fall, but Cowper said a larger facility is desperately needed there. “It’s so far undersized for the amount of volume,” she said. “They do two the three times the amount of volume we do here.” The facility has roughly 72 spaces for animals.

Statewide

Cowper joins shelter groups from across the state annually to rally the state Legislature for new bills that promote animal welfare. Cowper is also one of seven members, appointed by the former governor, to sit on the Arizona Companion Animal Spay and Neuter Committee. The committee oversees roughly $260,000 in annual funding collected through pet license plate sales to be dispersed statewide through grants.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com.