Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero

Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero

Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero.
Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero. Courtesy of the Petco Foundation

With a little hard work and dedication, one person can make a huge difference. And one person did make a difference, by saving the lives of over 500 animals in Texas.

The shelter dogs and cats in Taft, Texas, have one woman to thank for saving their lives.

Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero.
Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero. Courtesy of Kayla Denney

Kayla Denney has won the 2019 Petco Foundation Unsung Hero award for taking her local shelter from an almost 100% kill rate to zero.

Kayla left her job as an accountant to pursue her dream and true passion of helping animals – in anyway possible at that.

She ended up taking a job as an animal control officer, but also works as a shelter manager, as well as any other job needed to help an animal in need.

Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero.
Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero. Courtesy of Kayla Denney

“As of November 1st, we have saved 565 dogs and cats out of Taft,” Kayla Denney told KZTV.

The chief of police appointed Denney as the City of Taft Animal Control Department’s lead animal control officer to help bring the shelter back to life in November 2018.

When Kayla arrived at the shelter, the first thing she did was post to her personal Facebook page asking for supplies, donations, and no negative comments.

Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero.
Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero. Courtesy of Kayla Denney

At the time the kill rate for the animals was almost at 100%. The shelter had no electricity and the animals were helpless to their fate.

Kayla’s next step was to focus on improving the lives of shelter pets. She set out to round up volunteers willing to help walk, play, and care for the animals. She also set up a Facebook page in order to promote the shelter’s adorable pets who were looking for their forever homes.

She also reached out to fosters and rescues in the area to help the animals find their permanent families.

Slowly but surely, the shelter began to transform. Today, it’s got electricity and the animals coming through are being placed in loving homes.

Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero.
Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero. Courtesy of Kayla Denney

It exploded from there. People really stepped up as over 800 boxes of supplies arrived in order to help her transform the shelter.

“I had over 800 boxes delivered, and the some that we had to move to make room so we could walk in here,” Denney said in her Petco winner’s video.

Denney was nominated to Petco and received $10,000 in February for being one of five finalists. Winning the grand prize grants her another $25,000.

And rather than keep the money, Kayla has big plans to use the money and invest it further into enhancing the shelter.
After receiving the Petco award, Kayla said, “You guys just helped me save dogs. Every dog deserves a chance, whether it is my shelter or not.”

Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero.
Woman saves over 500 dogs and cats at Texas animal shelter by transforming it from 100% kill rate to zero. Courtesy of Kayla Denney

Follow Kayla on her Facebook page to stay up-to-date with all the amazing things she continues to do for shelter animals.

Thank you, Kayla. Your efforts are not only making a big difference, but you are inspiring others to do the same.


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