By Kendall Kirkham
kekirkham@neighborsgo.com

East Lake Pet Orphanage takes its pets very seriously.

Located inside the EastLakeVeterinaryHospital on E. Northwest Highway, the nonprofit, no-kill shelter is dedicated to finding the best possible home for its four-legged friends.

“We do turn people down,” said adoption administrator Roxanne Tucker.

The orphanage looks for a lifetime commitment.

Tucker said the shelter screens potential adoptive parents and performs background checks to ensure each pets’ safety and well-being.

“We do the best we can do with the hopes that we’re sending the animals to right person,” Tucker said.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes for each one to find the right home, ELPO will keep every pet until it is gone. That’s not to say it’s easy for pets to get in.

Because of the no-kill policy at ELPO, the shelter is often as maximum capacity.

Admittance requires an application, and the facility does its best to provide resources for other rescue centers and shelters if they don’t have room.

“There are just too many,” Tucker said. “We can’t help them all. That’s what’s so hardening.”

According to Dr. Karen Fling, president of ELPO and owner of EastLakeVeterinaryHospital, one of the reasons people choose to adopt from their orphanage is that the staff does everything possible to make sure the pets’ medical needs are fully taken care of before becoming available for adoption.

She also notes that 70 percent of people who come and visit the place are from outside the zip code.

Working together with other animal rescue organizations in the area, part of ELPO’s mission is to bring awareness to the serious problem of pet overpopulation in the area.

“It takes all of us working together to solve the problem,” Fling said.

Fling said 80 percent of homeless pets get euthanized, though ELPO is not a part of that statistic.

There just isn’t another good option right now, she said, and human health would be at risk if 

Fling, who is currently fostering six baby kittens in her home bathtub, said the best way to solve the problem of overpopulation is to teach owners to spay and neuter their animals.

Fling also urges people to make sure they are ready for the commitment before adopting a new pet.

“People make mistakes when they make an impulsive decision,” she said.

What is rewarding to staffers is when a pet’s second chance changes a life. Such is the case of a dog named Elliot, who was dumped at the shelter after the previous owner didn’t want him anymore. After being adopted, Elliott went on to become a DELTA certified therapy dog. Elliott recently passed away.

“He went from a pet that nobody wanted, to one of many that went on to do great things,” Fling said.

It all stems from a group of committed pet lovers and rescuers.

“We are so privileged to help take care of what we consider family members,” Fling said.

“They give us so much more than we give them.”

For more information about East Lake Pet Orphanage, including volunteer opportunities, visit elpo.com or call 214-349-ELPO.

SECOND CHANCE TREASURES

In an effort to support the orphanage, Second Chance Treasures was started two-and-a-half year ago to help maintain ELPO’s operation.

Judy Wester, who has known Fling for many years, turned a pile of donations into a resale store filled with clothing, household items, antiques and more.

Located at 9034 Garland Road and open seven days a week, 100 percent of the proceeds go back to the shelter. The shop will relocate to a larger space at 10101 Garland Road in June.

The shop is always looks for donations and volunteers.

For more information on how you can help Second Chance Treasures, visit secondchancetreasures.org.

WINE ON THE ROOF

ELPO’s ninth annual fundraiser, Wine of the Roof, will take place at 7 p.m. May 8 on the roof of the shelter, 10101 E. Northwest Highway. The night includes a silent auction, wine selections, a raffle and a pet fashion show, starring ELPO pets. The event will be emceed by CW33 meteorologist Rebecca Miller.

This year, Kinky Friedman will receive the John LaBella Award, which recognizes people who have done extraordinary things for animal issues.

For more information on Wine on the Roof and to purchase tickets, call 214-342-3100 or visit elpo.org.

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Kendall Kirkham is the White Rock neighborsgo editor and can be reached at mailto:kekirkham@neighborsgo.com?subject=neighborsgo%20story or 214-977-8872.