AAR's Mission
The Volunteers
Founded in 2002 by dedicated animal lovers Angie Fenton, Barbara Schulz, and James Gordon, AAR is entirely managed and maintained by volunteers.
Each day approximately 40-50 volunteers (from pre-teens to seniors) care for the animals, oversee adoptions, and staff the front office. Additionally, volunteers chair many fundraising events and participate in civic events.
The History of AAR
Humble Beginnings
AAR was born in a leased liquor store that we converted into a tiny shelter with a small lobby, one room for spay/neuter surgery, and two small rooms for rescued cats and dogs.
Moving On
Although it was exciting to get started, we knew we wanted more. It took about three years, but with the support of several major donors, AAR purchased one acre with a large building on it. This allowed for the ability to shelter about 30 dogs, 20 cats, and have a large surgery room. With more community support, we purchased the 5 acres behind the Hufsmith location. Our plans were to build a 10,000 sq ft brand new building on the back of the property.Â
The New Chapter
Unfortunately, building codes and the shape of the second property made adding on impossible with the money we had raised.
In 2016, after looking at numerous properties, we purchased seven acres in Magnolia. The large 2-story /3-car garage property was transformed into Offices, Lobby, Cattery, and Clinic. The larger dogs received new kennels with indoor/outdoor access. The grounds were transformed to include an interactive dog exercise area – Clark’s Bark Park – in memory of a young animal lover.
