Friends of Perry Animal Shelter (FOPAS) Offering animals a second chance at life

“To offer refuge, medical care, nourishment and an opportunity for a second chance at life to injured, unwanted and abused animals” is the mission statement of Friends of Perry Animal Shelter (FOPAS).

FOPAS was first incorporated in 2004 and until two years ago, the organization ran out of volunteers’ homes. Lynne Gibbs, volunteer and adoption coordinator, has been with the organization right from the beginning.

“Before I joined FOPAS, my friend and I had our own rescue called PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving),” said Gibbs. “When our license expired, I went to the founder of FOPAS, Davis Cosey. It was neat because with PAWS, we were pulling animals from the Perry Animal Shelter and that was what Davis’ goal was when he started FOPAS.”

In 2014, Cosey found FOPAS current location 1028 Macon Road and worked it our to where the organization could rent it.

“Davis, my parents and I, along with some volunteers, gutted this place out,” said Gibbs. “It was a lot of work but well worth it to have a place for the community to adopt our animals. The building was complete in July of 2014 and it’s been great. We pay a license to house the animals, and our vetting fee account is through Westmoreland and Slappey Animal Hospital.”

Gibbs said one misconception about FOPAS is that they are not a rescue shelter. She said FOPAS rescues animals from the Perry Animal Shelter before they are euthanized. The organization will then prep the animals for adoptions and take care of them until they are adopted out. Gibbs said they do spend more on the animals getting them ready for adoption then what they receive through their adoption fees.

“Even though we do lose money on each animal, it’s worth it in the end to see them go to a loving family,” said Gibbs. “But, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that the community doesn’t realize. A couple of volunteers and myself are here every morning to do the cleaning and give the animals their medications; it takes four hours to do that. Then, we go to our regular jobs, come back at 2 p.m. for adoption and stay open until 6 p.m.”

FOPAS holds adoptions at PetSmart in Warner Robins as well on Friday evenings from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gibbs said right now they have 73 cats, 12 dogs and six puppies. Gibbs’ passion for rescuing animals first started when she was a little girl.

“I would always bring cats and puppies home,” said Gibbs. “My mom could tell you many stories, but her famous words were you must find them a home and I always would. But, what really fired my passion was when my youngest son, who is in his 20s now, was in middle school and he had to do community service for his FFA club. He chose to help out at the Perry Animal Shelter and the odd thing about that was at that time I never knew Perry had a shelter and I had been living there for quite a while. He had to have a guardian go with him, and what I saw at the shelter, it was very sad. But, fast-forward to now, everything is on the right track because the city is having a new shelter being built as we speak. I love animals and I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”

If anyone is interested in volunteering for FOPAS, Gibbs said anyone is welcome to drop by during the hours of 2-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday or call (478) 988-7854. FOPAS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and runs solely on donations.

Gibbs said if anyone is interested in making monetary donations, go online to www.fopas.org, www.gofundme.com/FOPAS or mail to the FOPAS vetting fee account, Westmoreland and Slappey Animal Hospital, 100 Wes Park Drive/P.O. Box 1423, Perry, GA 31069.

“We do have certain items we need weekly if people would just like to donate the specific items,” said Gibbs. “We always need food for the animals, cat litter, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies and 20×25 AC vent filters. We also have a second chance store, where we have items for sale that people have donated, and all proceeds go back to FOPAS. Our community is very supportive and we can’t thank them enough.”

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