I have had the privilege to work side-by-side with many volunteers at the Weatherford/Parker County Animal Shelter. They are all selfless in the giving of their time, money and love to the lost and abandoned animals that temporarily live there. But there is one very special girl that is there every week. Her stature is slight and her manner is mild. She’s only 19 years old but has the wisdom and maturity of one who knows and understands the plight of the unwanted pet. Her name is Kayla Hardee and she is a Fairy Dogmother.

Kayla was only 11 years old when her family moved from Fort Worth to Weatherford and she remembers that the first thing she wanted to do was visit the animal shelter. Her family adopted a miniature rat terrier there and Kayla was hooked. Whenever her mother was not working, Kayla would beg her to take her to see the animals at the shelter where they would bring treats and walk the dogs.

In 2006, Kayla formed her rescue group to foster pets she brought home from the shelter. Saide Acres is named after her blue heeler, Saide who was adopted from the shelter and accompanies her everywhere. At Saide Acres Kayla has the facilities to foster up to 30 dogs and 20 cats, but normally keeps around 15 dogs and 5 to 10 cats in order to give them all the attention they need. The animals are kept there until they find their forever homes and Kayla even provides the dogs with basic training which includes walking on a leash, house training, sit, stay and down. She only uses word of mouth and her petfinder web site (www.saideacres.petfinder.com) to advertise. All the dogs and cats at Saide Acres were brought there from the animal shelter adding the occasional one she personally picked up as a stray. Kayla has a particular fondness for unwanted pregnant pets and has raised and rehomed dozens of puppies, kittens and their mothers. No animal leaves Saide Acres without being spayed or neutered first.

Kayla is adamant about altering your pets and does not believe that families should allow their dog or cat to have even one litter of their own.

“If you want to see a litter of puppies be born then go to the shelter and adopt a pregnant mother and save a life,” Kayla says. “Then have the mother spayed and find homes for all the puppies requiring proof of having them fixed. That way you’ve saved the whole group.”

Kayla has a level head on her shoulders. She knows she can’t save every dog or cat and that the problem of pet overpopulation is out of her control. With the courage and strength of a wise old soul, Kayla has even been known to visit the shelter on days that they are forced to euthanize because they’re overcrowded. On those days she comforts and loves on the dogs that are doomed because of lack of interest in them, being sick, or just having been there too long.

She understands the necessity and challenges of a city shelter.

“People have to have a place they can bring stray animals,” Kayla says. “The shelter receives dozens every day and there’s just not enough room for them all. If an animal is sick or unadoptable the most humane thing they can do is to put it down. I really wish there was another option but as long as there are puppy mills, back yard breeders and people who refuse to spay/neuter their pets this problem will not go away. I occasionally come on these days to be there to hold the dogs and give them attention so they knew someone loved them before their last breath,” she laments.

She is an extraordinary Fairy Dogmother.

Kayla also finds time to volunteer for Parker Paws, a non-profit established to aid the animals at the shelter by holding off-site adoption events, putting their pictures on the weatherford.petfinder.com web site and raising money for supplies needed at the shelter. You may have seen Kayla with one of her foster dogs, Petey, at the Peach Festival last weekend. She and Petey were there with Parker Paws collecting money for the shelter most of the day. It turned out to be Petey’s lucky day too when a family fell in love with him and adopted him the next week.

It is said that each child has a Fairy Godmother of its own. One can only hope this applies to animals as well. I know that one sunny day more than nine years ago, a Fairy Dogmother appeared at the animal shelter in Weatherford. She has sprinkled her magic dust on so many there and has asked for nothing in return so today I will ask for her.

Her first wish would be that everyone spay and neuter their pets. Her second that when you want to add a pet to your family, visit the shelter first, or of course, Saide Acres. And if you’d like to help this Fairy Dogmother, Saide Acres is always in need of supplies like dog beds, pet food, kitty litter and funds to pay for vet care. She can be reached through her web site at www.saideacres.petfinder.com.