Volunteer Tail: ARK's Maggi Hall

When Maggi Hall, director and founder of Animal Rescue Konsortium, (ARK) was just four years old, her dad presented her with a small fluffy kitten. She says this simple gift ignited her passion for the protection of all animals.

She now works tirelessly with volunteers to help find forever homes for abandoned and needy cats and dogs.

The history of ARK is wound tightly with Hall's career. She owns West Volusia Properties -- a DeLand, Florida real estate Company with "heart."

Home Sweet Homes

Her second passion, for restoring historic homes, was the inspiration for getting her real estate license, starting her business and initiating a downtown revitalization project of over 100 architecturally-interesting or significant homes in DeLand.

For this endeavor she received local and state awards for the area now known as the Garden District.

Meanwhile Hall's daughter, Erin attended and graduated from veterinary school.

Shortly after Erin graduated (now Dr. Erin Holder) she and Maggi restored an historic building in DeLand together. This building would become the The Florida Wild Veterinary Clinic. It took six years and 28 days of hard work to complete.

Its charm and beauty completely reflect the high quality of care and compassion its clients and pets receive.

But eventually Dr. Erin, overwhelmed by the numbers of animals dropped off and abandoned at her clinic, asked Hall to start a non-profit organization devoted to wildlife and domestic pet rescue.

Help Wanted

Deeply moved by her daughter's concern, Hall launched ARK in 2008.

ARK is now a recognized 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to rescuing animals from individuals who cannot or will not care for them any longer. ARK also rescues animals from overcrowded kill shelters by adopting them at full price.

The staff works with behavioral problems, locates foster homes, and coordinates with Petco in Orange County to facilitate adoptions. ARK also sponsor festivals and events, including the Dog Days of DeLand, which promotes dogs and green activities.

While there will always be a need for shelters to house abandoned animals on a temporary basis, Hall feels strongly that too many shelters kill rather than have an aggressive out-on the-street promotions of animals up for adoption. Her passion is working toward the transformation of these facilities into no-kill shelters.

Thus far, the DeLand City Animal Shelter has become a compassionate no-kill shelter. Not only saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs, it also saves the annual outlay of $50,000 -- the cost of euthanization.

Since finding charming homes for people and loving homes for animals is her passion, without a doubt Hall truly embodies the expression, "Home is where the heart is."

Volunteer Tails Take Action

We asked Hall for a simple, powerful challenge that Petside readers can take on to help shelter pets.

Her answer is to further the "No Kill Movement." Please mention the "No Kill Movement" to a staff member at your local shelter.

You can tell them about ARK, the Deland City Animal Shelter and, if you really want to get impressive, run down this list of mandatory programs and services the movement calls for:

• Feral Cat Trap-Neuter-Return Program

• High-Volume, Low-Cost Spay/Neuter

• Rescue Groups

• Foster Care

• Comprehensive Adoption Programs

• Pet Retention

• Medical and Behavior Rehabilitation

• Public Relations/Community Involvement

• Volunteers

• A Compassionate Director

For further reading on the No Kill Advocacy Movement visit nokilladvocacycenter.org.

Petside.com is donating $500 to ARK as a big "Thanks!" to Maggi Hall.