By Ernie Over, managing editor

Among the end of the year reports that caught our eye this past week was one from Lander’s Pet Connection posted on Facebook. The Pet Connection is a no-kill companion animal rescue and adoption agency run by volunteers. The facility is located near the intersection of Highway 789 and the turnoff to the Lander landfill east of town at 150 Chittim Road..During the year 2011, the Pet Connection finalized 103 adoptions, mostly dogs, placing them in what board member Deborah Ellis called “Forever Homes.”

The organization has a specific protocal for accepting animals for adoption, “We don’t just accept animals here,” Ellis said. “Because the City of Lander does not have an animal shelter, strays are taken to the Wind River Veterinary Clinic, which is under contract with the city to accept stray dogs. There is no provision of any kind regarding cats. The dogs are impounded at the vet clinic for an initial period of five days when the city picks up the tab, then the vet clinic keeps them another two days on their nickel.”

Ellis said that after the seven day period ends, the Pet Connection steps in and picks up the full cost of boarding and feeding until the animal can be adopted.

“We wait seven days because if an animal has medical issues, it usually surfaces within a week. We want to avoid bringing a diseased animal to our facility at all costs,” she said.

The Pet Connection pays to have the animals examined and vaccinated, and it pays for spay and neutering, which is done at G Bar G Veterinary Clinic in Riverton. “They give us a very good rate for that,” Ellis said.

And that brings us to the second part of the story. The facility.

The Pet Connection in October opened in a new building, thanks to the assistance of Furry Friends owner Scott Lewis, who gave the organization design plans for the new facility–a smaller version of his boarding and grooming shelter, located right next door.

“Without Scott’s assistance, we would not have been able to do this,” said another volunteer, Alexandra Schriever. “Not only did he help with the design, but he helped us with the contractors and he lets us use his dog run. Without that, this new facility would not be possible.”The new building has a cat room for a maximum number of three kittens at one time, a kitchen, a grooming room and 12 indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs. The reception area of the new building also offers pet-friendly toys. leashes and other items. “These are the kind of items that are not generally available here. They are pet-safe,” Schriever said.

The Pet Connection is already off to a good start for 2012. The organization’s first adoption occured on New Year’s Day when Paisly, now renamed “GiGi” was placed in a new home.

This weekend is a big one for the Pet Connection as a batch of puppies arrived at their facility Friday. “We’re getting three females and one male,” Schriever said. “They’re a mixture of shepard and boxers, I think, “tan and black and brindle colored.”

Ellis said the Pet Connection has a good adoption rate because some people are looking for specific breeds or they wait until puppies come in. “Ranchers, for instance, like herding dogs, and our most popular breeds are small dogs, they don’t come in often but are very popular.”

The Pet Connection is open daily from noon until 2 p.m. Voluneers are always welcome to help walk the dogs and perform other tasks. Of course, donations are always welcomed. The Pet Connection’s web site can be found at landerpets.org. The mailing address is P.O. Box 854 in Lander, 82520 and the phone contact number is 330-5200.