A Time 4 Paws supports not only an adoption center, but also a thrift store and a pet hotel in Crossville, Tenn.
Volunteers man the AT4P thrift store, located at 1201 West Ave., Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. One hundred percent of its profit helps the organization maintain the animals and operational expenses of the no kill animal adoption center, located at 463 Old Jamestown Hwy.
Karen Arnold has volunteered with AT4P for four years and at the thrift store since it opened in September 2013. She said, “Everyday we have different specials. Then we’ll throw an extra one in. … We want the customers to feel special. We want them to come back, and we want them to … have an idea of what we do [at A Time 4 Paws].”
Pearl Jaco, who also works at the thrift store, said, “People will give money, supplies. They donate everything we get in the store. People are really good about that. Some days we get big donations. … Other days we might only get two or three, but, in general, we have donations everyday of some type.”
At the entrance to the store, customers will find an information table with a photo album of adoptable pets, a wish list for donated supplies and other information about AT4P’s mission. AT4P volunteers also help rescue homeless and abused animals and create educational programs and literature about the no kill philosophy, which all require funding.
Arnold said, “I’m just really inspired by the things going on, and I want other people to see what we do and what we have done and what we’re going for the future with.”
She said that AT4P president Karen McMeekin is looking for 100 acres to create a sanctuary for animals that are never adopted, based on the model created by the Best Friends Animal Society near Kanab, Utah.
In the meantime, the organization uses the thrift store to help with veterinary bills and to fund the various programs it has in place to help people and their pets in the community and homeless and abused animals.
By shopping at the AT4P thrift store, consumers find inexpensive household, décor, clothing and pet supplies, as well as toys, books and holiday items. At the same time, they will be supporting AT4P’s efforts to save, find homes for and create a sanctuary for homeless pets in Cumberland County.