Middlebury’s Animals for Life Organization Finds Homes for Local Pets

Tucked away behind Maggie McFly’s eatery, a local no-kill animal rescue organization has found a home sharing space with the Middlebury Municipal Animal Shelter.

Animals for Life, a non-profit organization, was started by a small group of local individuals in 1998. By the end of that year, the group had outgrown its network of foster-homes able to accommodate the growing number of rescued animals.

With no funding to build their own physical plant, members approached Middlebury about possibly renting space at the town’s Municipal Shelter. An agreement was reached and later that year, Animals for Life moved its rescued animals into the space they leased from the town.

Sharing the already cramped quarters can sometimes be trying, but the staff at Middlebury Animal Control and Animals for Life are very compatible because both have one goal in mind – giving the animals housed there the best possible care.

All the pets receive veterinarian attention, and are spayed and neutered and given training and socialization when necessary, with the ultimate goal of finding forever homes for all of them.

In fact, as a no-kill shelter, Animals for Life immediately adopts any dog or cat under the auspices of the Middlebury Municipal Shelter when the town can no longer keep them – a win-win situation for all the animals at the shelter.

In addition, Animals for Life is just that.  Once you adopt an animal from this group, the group will be your partner throughout your pet’s life with any kind of support you require.

Another unusual feature of the organization is its regional hotline at 203-267-6777. If you have a question about a pet, are thinking or re-homing your dog or cat or just need someone to talk to about a pet or wildlife-related issues, there’s a qualified staff member who will gladly try to help.

There are many success stories at the shelter, but there's also a constant flow of wonderful animals waiting for their forever homes.

Chaz is a Lab mix that spent the two years before he arrived living outside.  As a result, Chaz is quite timid around strangers.  A beautiful, sweet, black medium- sized dog, he would make the perfect pet for someone with the time and patience to help him recover the great doggie-behaviors that he keeps buried inside him.

Unfortunately, the pit bulls that make the shelter their temporary stopover tend to stay longer than the other dogs. Dozer, a beautiful pit with winning, comical and playful personality is a perfect example of a pit bull that would make a great pet.  He’s fine with other dogs, loves people and is mainly interested in finding a toy that squeaks and happily running around with it.

There are also cats available at the shelter. Clyde, a gorgeous, orange and white, Maine Coon-type boy is an absolute love. He’s a big boy, about four years old and is looking for a family that can return the affection he readily gives to anyone stopping by his cage.

All supplies, food, vet care, etc. for these animals are provided through private donations. If you would like to make a monetary donation or donate your time at the shelter, please contact the group at 203- 267-6777.