Kamryn’s Kennel Slumber Pawty

When I first walked into the Animal Services building after the flood in July 2024, it was hard to imagine what it would become. 

The kennels were empty. The rooms were bare. The silence in a place that should have been filled with barking, wagging tails, and hopeful eyes felt overwhelming. Like many others in our community, we were facing a loss and trying to figure out how to rebuild, not just the building, but the mission that lives inside it. 

That was the moment I stepped into the role of Medical Coordinator at St. Clair County Animal Services.

 I didn’t step into a perfectly functioning shelter with everything in place. I stepped into uncertainty. Supplies were limited, spaces were still coming together, and the work ahead of us felt bigger than any one person. But what never changed was the purpose: every stray animal that walks through our doors deserves a second chance. 

Every single one. 

Since that day, my focus has been making sure each animal that arrives at our shelter gets the care, evaluation, and opportunity they deserve. On average, our shelter welcomes around 100 animals every month. That means 100 medical intakes, 100 behavioral assessments, 100 stories that begin with uncertainty but have the potential to end in a loving home. 

Some animals come in scared and unsure of people.  Some arrive injured or neglected.  Some simply lost their way and are waiting for someone to find them again. 

No matter how they arrive, our job is the same, to help them move forward. 

As the Medical Coordinator, I am responsible for their medical care from the moment they walk through our doors. From vaccinations and health checks to treatment plans and behavioral evaluations, every animal receives the attention they need to start their journey toward adoption. It’s a role that requires long days, tough decisions, and a lot of heart, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. 

That’s why I’m participating in Slumber Pawty. 

For this fundraiser, I’ll be spending the night in one of our kennels alongside the very animals we work so hard to help every day. It’s a small glimpse into what shelter life is like for them: the waiting, the hope, and the quiet moments between visits from staff and volunteers. 

But more importantly, it’s a chance to raise critical funds that directly support the animals in our care. 

Every donation made during Slumber Pawty helps provide things our animals rely on every single day: medical supplies, vaccines, medications, enrichment items, food, bedding, and the resources needed to care for the steady stream of animals who arrive each month needing help. 

When people ask why we do this work, the answer is simple. 

Because every stray that walks through our doors deserves someone in their corner. They deserve someone who sees more than their past.  Someone who believes in their future.  Someone willing to fight for their second chance.

Slumber Pawty is about standing beside them, literally and figuratively, and showing them they’re not alone. 

Your support helps us continue building bigger and better, continue providing medical care, and continue giving every animal who enters our shelter the opportunity to find the life they deserve. 

Thank you for being part of their second chance.