Zoey, a 10-year-old lab mix whose black fur is flecked with gray, ambles across the enclosed dog park, her tail wagging happily as she spots her friend, Alexis Leidigh, who is prepared with treats and an endless supply of cuddles.
Surrendered by her previous owner, Zoey has lived at the Humane Society of Pulaski County for more than a year, waiting for a home. She's one in a long stream of animals of all shapes and sizes who have passed through the no-kill shelter's doors since it was founded in 1946.
This year, the Humane Society is celebrating its 70th birthday Friday in 1970s style with the Fur Ball, a big party for an organization that takes in the strays, rescues from local municipal shelters and pets whose owners can no longer care for them.
All of them have needed some extra TLC before finding new homes and that's where the army of volunteers like Leidigh comes in.
Leidigh always loved animals and wanted to work with them in some capacity, at one time contemplating veterinary school.
"However, I had a really hard time even dissecting frogs."
Instead, she has a degree in environmental health sciences from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and works for Atlantic Tele-Network as a senior regulatory specialist. In her free time, she heads out to the Humane Society compound, where she has volunteered since 1998.
For 18 years she has performed almost the whole range of volunteer activities the Humane Society offers. There's Puppy Love, a program in which volunteers take animals to visit nursing homes. Volunteers also help transport animals to media events and community adoption events. In summer, volunteers are needed to pitch in for weekly dog washes.
In December 2014, she joined the board and in August 2015, she became board secretary.
Leidigh's own favorite way of pitching in, though, is just spending hands-on time, taking dogs out for some one-on-one time in the dog park or playing in the free-range cat rooms. It's fun and gives the animals some needed attention and fresh air, as well as improving their chances of finding a home.
"It's a rewarding experience and you just feel good about how you spend your day. Even if you can only come out for a couple of hours, you're making a difference in their day by being able to spend some extra time with them."
She has four dogs and two cats at home. None came from the Humane Society. All of her pets were ones she found and rescued off the streets.
But it's still important to her to spend time each week with the shelter animals, particularly ones that are shy or have been there longer than others.
"Those are sort of the ones I gravitate to the most, are the ones that have been here a long time."
They're always looking for more volunteers. Orientation sessions are held one Saturday a month and after the tour and general class, there's specialized training for those who want to work hands-on with the animals.
Every year, the Humane Society hosts its big Reigning Cats and Dogs fundraising gala in the fall but they wanted to throw a special party to honor the 70th anniversary. Hence, the Fur Ball, a "disco inFURno" that will transport guests back to the 1970s.
Yes, the Humane Society of Pulaski County was actually founded in the 1940s, but the board decided to play off the 70 years theme and make it a night of 1970s craziness.
"We just thought a '70s-themed event would be fun," Leidigh explains.
In keeping with the theme, there will be '70s-theme appetizers with wine and beer included in the ticket price ($46 to honor 1946). There will also be a photo booth, videos and a cash bar as well as a silent auction of pet treat jars by local artists. A DJ will spin disco music for the first part of the evening with the band Just Sayin' finishing up with a lineup of classic rock.
And, yes, bell bottoms, peasant blouses and leisure suits are encouraged.
"You don't have to wear '70s attire, of course," Leidigh says, "but we'd love for people to do that if they want to."
The money raised will all go to the Humane Society, which supports its 25,000-square-foot shelter, clinic, full-time veterinarian and staff through fundraisers, bequests, donations and grants.
"A lot of people don't realize this, but we are a private shelter," Leidigh says. "We don't get any government funding. We really depend on the community and their support to be able to do what we do."
That means taking care of Zoey and all the other animals waiting to find permanent homes.
"I think doing any kind of volunteer work is good for the soul. If animals are your passion, the Humane Society is a great place to volunteer."
The Fur Ball is 7-11 p.m. Friday at Next Level Events, 1400 W. Markham St. Tickets are $46 in advance, $53 at the door. Call (501) 227-6166 or visit warmhearts.org. The Humane Society of Pulaski County is at 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock. The phone number is (501) 227-6166.
High Profile on 04/24/2016