Once a year, the members of the Phelps County Animal Welfare League don aprons, cook pancakes and offer them up with a big serving of animal gratitude.

A non-profit organization, PCAWL’s goal is to promote and improve the welfare of animals in Phelps County, primarily through support of the animals at the Rolla Animal Shelter.

To that end, PCAWL is co-sponsoring with Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar in Rolla an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m., Saturday, May 16.

Supporting members of the organization work hard to prevent animals from being euthanized. Adoptions and foster care are the tools by which they work.

Abby Jelavich, PCAWL Public Relations representative, said the pancake fundraiser will help pay medical bills for the animals at the shelter and in foster care.

“We have about 50 animals in foster care right now in Rolla,” Jelavich said. “Any animal placed in foster care gets free medical treatment and spaying or neutering.”

Although PCAWL is neither formally affiliated with the Rolla Animal Hospital, nor does it receive any funding from the city, its members work very closely with the Animal Shelter to find adoptive and foster parents for the animals housed in the facility.

According to PCAWL, about half of all animals that enter shelters nationwide are euthanized.
Statistics posted in the Rolla Animal Shelter Web site state it adopts approximately 66 percent of the animals in its facility.

To date, approximately 200 animals have found adoptive homes through the efforts of PCAWL, Jelavich said.

Additionally, primarily through the donations of Royal Canin USA, Inc., a Rolla company, and in coordination with the Rolla Animal Shelter, PCAWL presently is introducing a low-income animal food pantry.

The annual PCAWL fundraiser will give sheltered animals a second chance to find homes, Jelavich said.

The cost for the pancake breakfast is $6 for adults and $3 for kids younger than six.

Jelavich suggests that supporters who are unable to attend, but want to help, may send donations to the Phelps County Animal Welfare League at P.O. Box 1981, Rolla, Mo., 65402.

Families interested in adopting a pet may view photos of adoption-ready animals, which are posted on the following Web sites: pcawl.org and petfinder.com.