Deidre Knight Matney comes
by her love of animals and
the Bella Vista Animal Shelter
naturally.
"I got involved in 2002
because I personally brought in
10 stray puppies in one year,"
the executive director of the
Bella Vista Animals Shelter
said. "They would just show
up at my house or I would
find stray puppies crossing
the road. I would pull over
and pick them up and bring
them to the shelter if they had
room. If not, I would foster
them at my home."
Deidre, whose mother and
a friend started the Humane
Society in Springdale in the
early 1960s, grew up in the
animal shelter business.
She knows why there
is such a demand for
the services Bella Vista's
shelter provides.
"People do not spay and
neuter their pets and that
creates an overpopulation
problem," she explained. "I
think people just don't take
enough responsibility. If
you are going to take
on responsibility
you have got to
be responsible."
Many local animal shelters and
humane societies are always in need
of kid and adult volunteers.
The Bella Vista Animal Shelter
is a great place to make a difference.
Looking for a
place to make
a difference?
By Dave Woods • dwoods@OfficialKidsMag.com
16 • Off icial Kids Mag • FEBRUARY 2018
