Our goal has always been to rescue, rehabilitate and place all kinds of companions in their forever homes and its an incredible honor to be featured in the Richfield Reaper. Check out the article below, written by Richfield Reaper Staff Writer Trina Willardson.
Working to help animals one at a time – Local rescue serving furry, feathered and sometimes scaled, friends
SALINA – After purchasing a 15-acre piece of property on the outskirts of Salina in 2005, a labor of love for Jeannine and Lyle Fullmer has developed into Fullmer Menagerie Animal Rescue and Wags to Riches Doggie Daycare/Boarding.
It is a facility that provides daycare, grooming, boarding, as well as animal rescue. It is a registered 501c-3, non-profit organization whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home all types of companions.
The rescue provides a sanctuary for animals to live out their lives or possibly be relocated to a suitable forever home. It is supported by community donations, personal funds invested by the Fullmers, as well as income from adoption fees and the grooming and boarding services.
“Whatever a client needs to board, we try to accommodate them if at all possible,” Fullmer said. “We are capable of boarding a wide variety of companions – from dogs and cats, to horses and pigs, even snakes and exotic birds.”
The facility has developed from a building on the property serving approximately 150 clients in its early stages to multiple structures that has served over 730 clients from all over the state of Utah, Colorado and Alaska. The facility has the ability to board up to 36 dogs at any given time. One building is where dogs are groomed and boarded, as well as cats. Two outdoor playpens are attached with eight-feet high fences to prevent climbers from escaping.
“We have seven employees and various volunteers,” Fullmer said. “We take pride in maintaining a clean, smell-free hospitable environment for the animals while they are with us. Each dog gets an adventure walk every day, a few cats that think they are dogs get taken on walks as well.”
In another area on the property, there are indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs, which are heated via solar panels; an indoor/outdoor cattery, which is also heated by solar panels; multiple large livestock pens for horses, llamas, goats, sheep, pigs, geese, chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc.
Another structure is the Fullmer’s home and also houses exotic birds, turtles and geriatric animals. Rather, animals in need of special care due to illness, injury or age are kept there, as well as kitten and puppy litters.
With various exceptions, the dogs are rotated between the daycare/boarding building and the indoor/outdoor kennels in order to socialize them with other dogs and people. The dogs are provided with clean bedding every day, cots and two warm meals each day. The warm meals are homemade and consist of meat, rice and vegetables. A grain-free dry dog food is left out and available at all times.
“We literally live it day-in and day-out,” Fullmer said. “It is a work in progress and I am still learning. I learn something new every day. I would like for this to be something that further enhances our community, not only with the services we provide, but also to provide more jobs and training as we grow.
“We provide educational tours to youth groups and have a volunteer program students could benefit from,” Fullmer said. “We have one young man that started volunteering here when he was 12 years old. He is now 17 years old and one of our employees. He is using the time he has invested here over the past five years as an aspect of his FAA Sterling Scholar bid.”
Donations to Fullmer Menagerie Animal Rescue go directly to assisting the companions in their care by providing food, shelter, veterinary care and grooming services. Fullmer estimates in excess of $600 is spent on dog food per month and more than 30 tons of hay is used per year.
“We gladly accept both monetary and in-kind donations,” Fullmer said. “Each donation, no matter how small, will help us create second chances. We value honesty, integrity and compassion and we strive to be transparent and forthright in how we utilize our donations. The majority of the donations we receive are utilized to purchase food, medications and supplements, and veterinary care - the essential items required to provide our companions with a happy, healthy and positive temporary environment.”
Fullmer is a certified K-9 behavioral instructor and groomer. She provides one-on-one training and looks forward to providing group training in the future.
Fullmer Menagerie Animal Rescue is located at 1309 South Old Highway 10, Salina.
For more information call (435) 406-6779 or visit fullmermenagerieanimalrescue.org.
On the website, pricing can be obtained, services can be booked, donations can be made, as well as locating applications for volunteering, fostering and adoption.
- Richfield Reaper, Staff Writer Trina Willardson: Published February 14, 2020 (Link)