By Matt de Simone
When a winter storm threatened the League for Animal Protection in late January, the shelter’s safety depended not on equipment, but on people willing to step in at a moment’s notice.
As freezing temperatures and icy conditions approached, shelter officials learned that the facility’s backup generator had failed — a discovery that raised immediate concerns for the dogs and cats in their care.
“We realized the generator wasn’t working the very day the storm was arriving,” said Pat Shaver, who has served as shelter director for 30 years. “If we had lost electricity, we wouldn’t have had heat or water, and that would have been disastrous for the animals.”
Although the shelter never lost power, the lack of a functioning generator prompted an urgent call for help. Within hours, volunteers responded.
Volunteer Laken Vail offered to take all eight cats into her family’s guesthouse, located near her home.
“We don’t use the guesthouse very often, and when I saw Pat’s plea, it just felt like the perfect little spot for them,” Vail said. “I called her and said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Vail said caring for the cats during the storm became a family effort. Her children, Mila, 6, and Banks, 4, helped feed the cats, clean litter boxes and spend time with them while roads remained icy.
“It gave us something meaningful to do while being snowed in,” Vail said. “Getting to know their personalities outside of the shelter environment was really special.”
At the shelter, volunteer Barry Kuhlik stayed behind to care for the dogs that could not be placed in foster homes. What was expected to be a short stay stretched into five days as weather conditions lingered.
“I had an inkling it might be longer,” Kuhlik said. “With the roads freezing, I wasn’t convinced other volunteers would even be able to get out of their driveways.”
Kuhlik packed enough supplies to remain on site and provided round-the-clock care for the dogs.
“Being with them 24/7 was actually kind of nice,” he said. “You really get to know their personalities. A couple of dogs that were usually standoffish really started to open up.”
Kuhlik said the dogs handled the storm well and eagerly played outside in the snow before returning indoors to warm up.
“They loved it,” he said. “They’d play for 15 or 20 minutes, then stand by the door ready to come back in, warm up, and then do it all over again.”
Shaver said Kuhlik’s willingness to stay at the shelter was critical.
“Barry staying meant the dogs weren’t alone,” she said. “That made a huge difference for their well-being.”
The emergency ultimately led to unexpected positive outcomes. Two dogs fostered during the storm were adopted, including Wally, who had been at the shelter for more than a year.
“To have Wally adopted after being here that long was incredible,” Shaver said. “What started as a scary situation turned into something really positive.”
Several of the cats temporarily housed by Vail were also adopted. Vail’s parents adopted two cats, and her family is hoping to adopt another.
“I think being in a home helped people really see who they were,” Vail said. “I’m hoping it made it easier for them to find permanent homes.”
The League for Animal Protection relies on approximately 64 volunteers, many of whom serve weekly or monthly. Shaver said the response during the storm demonstrated the strength of the Fincastle and Botetourt County community.
“This really shows what kind of people we have here,” Shaver said. “Everyone just stepped up.”
The shelter is now seeking donations to replace the failed generator, with estimates ranging from $8,000 to $12,000. Shaver said having reliable backup power is essential for future emergencies.
Adults interested in volunteering or donating can email LAPinformation@aol.com. Donations toward the generator may be made via Venmo at @Pat-Shaver-2 or by check mailed to P.O. Box 561, Fincastle, 24090.
“Who else was going to do it?” Kuhlik said. “These animals needed help, and that’s why we’re there.”
