New Leash on life: Local Animal shelter provides safe 'haven'

by Hilary McNamara, associate editor

From a simple love of animals, Joe and Dr. Brenda Wilbanks created a “Haven” that has given all kinds of animals a second chance for a good life.

The Haven Animal Care Shelter got its start when Joe and Dr. Brenda Wilbanks moved from Idalou to Lubbock into the country.

In a recent interview with the Plainsman Press, Joe Wilbanks said, “We wanted to get out in the country for the dogs, but also because we liked it,” he says “My wife used to teach school in Petersburg, and I was a fireman. On my days off, me and two of my dogs would go out on to the porch in the afternoon and wait for my wife to come home. About a third of the time there would be another little head popping up from the seat.”

It turned out that one of the dogs his wife picked up in Petersburg ended up having six puppies. Joe admits that “gradually, it was just a thing that happened.”

Dr. Wilbanks has always been involved with animal organizations, and her mother and father both liked animals.

“It was just kind of second nature for her,” Joe Wilbanks says. With more and more people dropping dogs off, they decided that Joe should retire and run the shelter, while Dr. Wilbanks kept her job as an education physiologist bringing in the most income.

The Haven has been open for 30 years and is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter. They receive some donations, but most of the bills are paid by the Wilbanks. Donations are always needed and appreciated.

Currently, they have about 154 dogs waiting to be adopted. The Haven not only has dogs, but it also has about 90 cats. In addition to the dogs and cats, there are a few other interesting residents at The Haven. The Wilbanks have two very big, but cute, pot belly pigs, mini horses and a horse.

The Haven features covered pens with dog houses, with two dogs in each pen. The cats are housed in buildings with heat and air conditioning.

“Some volunters say that the cats have nicer houses than they do,” Joe says jokingly.

The average adoption rate of dogs and cats is about one per day, so around 300 of the their animals are adopted each year, according to Joe Wilbanks.  If the dogs do not get adopted out, they live out the rest of their lives at the Haven. There are about six dogs that have been there all their lives, about six or seven years. Wilbanks says that some of the dogs just are not adoptable because they are scared of everything. The Haven also has some cats that have been around awhile as well.

Most of the animals are adoptable, and the Haven’s adoption procedure is very thorough. An application needs to be filled out that includes questions about the prospective pet owner, vet history, and living accommodations. Sometimes, when they have time, the Wilbanks try to make home visits.

“That tells you a lot about a person,” Joe Wilbanks sys.

From the application process, he adds that “You can tell some people do not need dogs, and you can find that out pretty quick.”

There is an adoption program for senior citizens as well. There was a Haven board member who came up with the idea and thought it would work out really well. Wilbanks says that they have “older dogs that have been here a long time” that are paired with an elderly person. “Since they are both easy going and laid back, it works real good,” Wilbanks says.

Another way that the animals get out for adoption is by taking them places. Every other week, Wilbanks or other volunteers take about three dogs and four cats to Petsmart in Lubbock. They are there from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They also take the animals to places such as Tractor Supply. 

“Anything that we can do to get our name out so people can see what we have is good for us,” Wilbanks says.

Some advice Wilbanks offers for pet owners is that “If you are going to adopt, a shelter is a really good place to look especially the city shelter, because their animals have three days. Some wonderful dogs are in shelters, and people just do not want them anymore and just dump them out.”

With everyone else’s dogs on their hands, Joe and Dr. Brenda find time to keep 14 of their own dogs. Four of them are handicapped, and most are smaller dogs used as therapy dogs.

One incredible dog is Jenny, a large white German Sheperd. Jenny was shot in the spine because she was in a chicken coop. She lost her back legs and tail. She gets around on cart that she pushes with her front feet.

“Jenny is the most wonderful, thankful dog, and she smiles all the time,” Wilbanks says.

The Haven offers many programs that work with the community. Dr. Brenda Wilbanks started a pet therapy program called Pets as Pals for kids who have therapeutic needs. Nursing students from University Medical Center will come out and work with a child and a dog in a small group.

“We found out that it helps the kids a lot,” Joe Wilbanks says. “It helps the dogs, and it gives the nursing students some experience.”

They have also come up with a program for college students and people who live in apartments. They can come to the Haven and “surrogate adopt” a dog by taking it on walks, outings and playing with the animal. But, the dog would still be available for other people to adopt.

Running the Haven is no easy task. Joe’s daily routine varies from vet visits to picking up donated dog food. He also makes sure that everything is running smoothly. Right now, they have two puppies that are pretty young, and sometimes they get some that still have to be bottle fed. “That can be pretty time consuming,” Wilbanks says.

There is one full-time employee who is in charge of feeding. There is also a volunteer who is out there three days a week who helps feed the animals.

“We always need volunteers,” Wilbanks adds.

A lot of clubs and organizations come out to help with various tasks such as spreading gravel. One of the best things that Wilbanks says volunteers can do is go into the pens and play with the dogs.

“Most of the dogs are just dump-outs that need attention, and to socialize the dog will make it more adoptable,” says Wilbanks.

Those interested in lending support can participate in the upcoming Strut for the Mutts events. Owners can bring their dogs for a 1.5 mile walk that is planned for the fall. There will be time for snacks and a look at some dogs for adoption. There will also be a raffle, followed by the walk.

To learn more about all these events, programs and more, visit The Haven’s website at www.havenacs.org

With their motto being “May we, God helping us, be apart of the answer, not part of the problem,” one may start to realize what a difference Joe and Dr. Brenda Wilbanks have truly made.

*All photos by Britni Palomino/Plainsman Press