SNYDERSVILLE -- A new animal shelter opening in Monroe County is taking a unique approach to helping the area's homeless dogs and cats. They're looking for volunteers to help out, too.
Dash is the very first dog to call Camp Papillon Pet Adoption and Rescue his temporary home.
The newest animal shelter in Monroe County just opened on a sprawling property in Snydersville.
"(It's) actually to help all of the abandoned, neglected animals in the area. One shelter just isn't enough,” said Camp Papillon president Gerri Papillon.
The non-profit group purchased the property in July, thanks to a generous anonymous donation. Now the former Camp Brainerd property has been transformed. The cafeteria is the dog kennel. A cottage is now an indoor and outdoor cat room.
"It's going to be actually free-roaming rooms where the cats and the senior dogs will actually live their life not in a crate or in a kennel,” said assistant volunteer coordinator Dave Carbone.
Because most of the dogs and cats won't be in traditional kennels, Camp Papillon plans to take in more animals than most traditional shelters.
“It's going to save us space, get the dogs and the cats out of here and into homes, and be able to take in more animals,” said Carbone.
As of right now, the non-profit group is starting off small: about 40 dogs and 25 to 30 cats, but it plans to have a capacity for up to 200 animals.
"We'll need lots of volunteers to socialize to play with the cats the dogs, everything,” said Papillon.
They’re training volunteers Saturday and need as many people as possible to start helping.
"If you're looking to make a difference in an animal's life, come here,” said Carbone.
