Nobody can say exactly when humans started to domesticate animals, such as dogs. According to slate.com, it can be estimated as clear back as 30,000 years ago. Still today, many children ask for a puppy for their birthday or for Christmas.

And what better method to receive an animal than adopting one from a shelter?

The City of Powell Moyer Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter which lies on the south side of the railroad tracks running through town. The shelter has been part of the Powell community for over 20 years.

“[The pets] come from the city when they pick them up and no one claims them,” shelter manager Barb Muecke said. “And if they’re not claimed within a week, then we can have them spayed and neutered and adopted.

“We do get a lot of cats from the country also.”

Another way the shelter receives pets is by the people who turn in lost animals found around town. The shelter takes care of dogs and cats of all ages. Currently, there are 20 cats and one dog in their custody.

“Dogs have been adopted pretty quickly because we have so few,” Muecke said. “Cats – that just depends; some months are good some months aren’t.

“I would say maybe an average [with the] cats – five times a month.”

Just this last July, the members of Caring for Powell Animals dealt with a muddy mess when the rain caused the building to flood. They dealt with a loss of supplies such as food and cat litter.

“We’re doing okay it’s still more construction work. They’re not finished with that yet with the walls,” Muercke said. “As far as supplies go, we’re doing pretty good with the dogs.

“[With] the cats, you could always use cat food and cat litter.”

The Powell community also came to help during the disaster last month. Many donated to the cause or stopped by the shelter to assist the employees.

“The community did come out when this place was flooded, there wasn’t anybody and then somebody got busy and put it on ‘duh duh duh’ [a public Facebook page] and geez, people come flying in so the community did help in that way.” Muecke said.

There are many other ways community members can aid the Caring for Powell Animals group. The obvious choice is adopting pets. The normal adoption fees are $25 for a cat and $45 for a dog.

“The adoptions [are] the biggest thing, but if they wanted to volunteer in helping a lot of people would make donations of food, supplies [and] stuff like that so that’s another way of helping.” Muecke said.

At the shelter, anybody over the age of 12 can volunteer. Kathy Beier, a frequent volunteer, enjoys spending time with the dogs and cats.

“I really like animals,” Beier said. “I love being over here with the animals.

“I feel sorry for them and stuff I mean they’re in here, don’t have homes and stuff so they – they need people to talk to them and be around them and everything.”

Beier suggested one more way people can support their work.

“Just come in the cat room and sit,” Beier said. “Pay attention to them and stuff like that – let them know they’re not alone.”

The shelter might be a pet’s temporary domain until they are adopted – and the City of Powell Moyer Animal Shelter tries to make their animals feel like they are already home.

“It’s hard to shut that door, turn out the lights and seeing them all look at you – you feel bad leaving them,” Muecke said.