Taking names and saving lives, of animals that is, is what Dusty Paws Pet Rescue is all about. Since May of this year a Grayson County family has rescued and adopted out 20 dogs to deserving families.

Dusty Paws is a no-kill shelter that rescues animals who are going to be euthanized, and pairs them up with people looking for a pet.

Owner Operator Gloria Watkins got the idea for her non-profit organization from working a full-time job at an animal hospital in Elizabethtown. She witnessed firsthand how hard it was for people to adopt an animal.

“There is such a need for something like this,” Watkins urged. “At work I have seen how hard it is to adopt an animal. One woman could not adopt a pet, because she was too old. With me, I do not care if you have a fence or if you crate your dog while at work, because I do those things. They make it too hard for families to get pets.”

Watkins, since opening her business in May, has received numerous phone calls from other shelters in need of assistance.

Once Watkins receives an animal, she keeps them isolated for a week to learn behavioral habits and mannerisms.

“I do not make a profit whatsoever from the shelter,” Watkins mentioned. “My adoption fee is only what I have paid to get the animal back to good health. I make sure all the shots are up to date.”

People from as far away as Indiana and Missouri have adopted dogs.

“All I care about is if they are loved, fed, watered and taken care of,” Watkins said.

When the interview about Dusty Paws took place Watkins had two animals enrolled at the shelter, a Maltese-poodle mix (5.6 lbs. five months old) and a Shih-Tzu-poodle mix named Mister (two years old and 15 lbs.).

“Mitzi was turned into me at the animal hospital,” Watkins explained, “and mister came from Louisville. He was going to be euthanized.”

Anyone interested in adopted a pet through Dusty Paws can contact Watkins by phone at 270-242-9104 or visit petfinder.com and type in the rescue shelter’s name.