FARMINGTON — As a child, when Kevin Egers saw an animal in need, he always tried to take it home.

As an adult, rescuing animals is still his top priority.

Accepting the position as director of the Franklin County Animal Shelter seemed like a good fit for the man who makes a home for abused and abandoned animals.

Egers started at the shelter last week.

He and his family moved to Farmington in 2001 and bought a farm on Route 27, also known as the New Vineyard Road. Along with eight rescued dogs and cats, the farm, called K2Acres Farm, houses dairy goats, llamas, hens and horses, among other farm animals. Many of the animals are hard-luck cases. Several are seniors with special needs, he said. 

“They are safe, loved and don’t have to worry about their next meal,” he said.

Milk from the farm’s dairy goats is made into soaps and lotions and sold mostly through an online store. All proceeds go back to the farm for the animals’ care and medical needs, he said. 

A small Chi-Poo, a cross between a Chihuahua and a poodle, named Sammie, follows Egers to his office. The dog made a connection with Egers who rescued him from life in a crate. He now follows Egers everywhere.

There is nothing more rewarding than to see others come in, make a connection with an animal and adopt, he said.

While the farm occupies a good part of his life, Egers has spent 26 years in management positions for different companies, he said. The last one downsized his position this past summer, leaving Egers with more time for the farm. When the opening at the animal shelter came up, it seemed like a good fit, he said.

Along with the reward of seeing animals adopted out to their “furever” homes, Egers enjoys his new co-workers. Because he had taken in animals from the shelter before, several employees were already known to him and had gained his respect and admiration, he said.

“The work is not glamorous, but necessary,” he said. “They work hard and are devoted. People are either at work because they need to be or because they love it. The shelter is a place where there are people who love it.”

Egers is awed by volunteers and people who may not be in a position to have animals of their own but still extend compassion for those in the shelter by giving of their time, money or products such as food, cat litter and cleaning supplies, he said.

“We could not do without them,” he said.”They are very flexible, as they do laundry, clean up, show animals to visitors or walk dogs. I can’t say how much we appreciate them.”

Along with the goal of rehabilitating animals and getting them adopted into good homes, Egers sees the shelter focusing on the needs of the community.

While he wishes he could save every cat and dog, that is not a realistic goal, he said. But working with the public on the importance of spaying, neutering and vaccinations is. An abundance of stray animals can affect the health of the community, he said.

Even the nail-clipping sessions at the Tractor Supply Co. provide an opportunity to educate people, he said. They then share that knowledge with others. Fundraising also offers an opportunity to emphasize the what and why of the shelter.

The shelter currently has 15 dogs and some lovable cats. Some kittens are in foster homes at the moment. 

Instead of a “Pet of the Week” Egers wants to name a “Cat of the Week” and a “Dog of the Week.” Each will have a little bio or information about the animal to entice people to come and meet them, he said.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

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