Our Mission and Goals
To insure the humane treatment of animals in the communities we serve
A-PAL Humane Society GOALS
A-PAL Humane Society GOALS
1. To end euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats in Amador County
2. To increase public awareness and acceptance of responsibility for animal welfare
3. To place homeless animals in good homes through aggressive adoption and foster care programs
4. To raise funds to finance spay/neuter programs in Amador County
5. To end inhumane treatment of animals in Amador County
6. To support legislation encouraging humane treatment of animals
2. To increase public awareness and acceptance of responsibility for animal welfare
3. To place homeless animals in good homes through aggressive adoption and foster care programs
4. To raise funds to finance spay/neuter programs in Amador County
5. To end inhumane treatment of animals in Amador County
6. To support legislation encouraging humane treatment of animals
Our History
In 1978, a group of animal-loving Amador County residents created A-PAL Humane Society with the goal of promoting the humane treatment of animals in Amador County. Over the years, A-PAL has been at the forefront of many positive changes, including the following
We worked with the county shelter and volunteers to help improve the save rate of animals taken in from just 15% in 1988. to 88% saved in 2021,.
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A certificate program was initiated to assist Amador County residents with spay/neuter costs.
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Established in 2013, our Community Cats program has saved countless feline lives through trap, spay/neuter, vaccination and return of feral cats to their colonies. These cats are also adopted as barn cats or, when tame enough, as family pets.
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The spay/neuter deposit program was discontinued and animals today do not leave the Amador County shelter or A-PAL without being spayed or neutered prior to adoption.
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In 2021, A-PAL Humane Society teamed up with Tri County Wildlife Care to open the PawsPartners facility at 12360 Trade Center Driver. This location provides space for cat rehabilitation, socialization and adoption. A-PAL also hosts a cat adoption site at the Feedbarn in Jackson.
WHO WE HELP
Board of Directors
President
Susan Manning owned the Feed Barn Country Store with her husband John for over 20 years. They are now retired, and Susan spends as much time as she can volunteering for A-PAL and Tri County Wildlife Care. She has been President of A-PAL for 16 years and focuses on two main goals: reducing the number of shelter intakes and increasing shelter save rates. The Feed Barn donates space to A-PAL for operations, which includes feeding, caring and providing space for 300-500 cats and kittens up for adoption annually.
Susan Manning owned the Feed Barn Country Store with her husband John for over 20 years. They are now retired, and Susan spends as much time as she can volunteering for A-PAL and Tri County Wildlife Care. She has been President of A-PAL for 16 years and focuses on two main goals: reducing the number of shelter intakes and increasing shelter save rates. The Feed Barn donates space to A-PAL for operations, which includes feeding, caring and providing space for 300-500 cats and kittens up for adoption annually.
Vice President
Margaret “Marge`” Blair is Vice President of A-PAL and owner of Twin Cedar K9 located east of Jackson. The goal of the Second Chance Program is to “train and rehabilitate” shelter dogs that stand little chance of being adopted because of behavioral problems. These dogs are pulled from Amador County Animal Control, Calaveras Animal Control and sometimes from Stockton's city animal shelter. Once in the Second Chance Program, the dogs are evaluated and then trained and socialized with the help of a team of volunteers. To read more about the program and see photos and stories of happy graduates, go to www.TwinCedarK9.com
Margaret “Marge`” Blair is Vice President of A-PAL and owner of Twin Cedar K9 located east of Jackson. The goal of the Second Chance Program is to “train and rehabilitate” shelter dogs that stand little chance of being adopted because of behavioral problems. These dogs are pulled from Amador County Animal Control, Calaveras Animal Control and sometimes from Stockton's city animal shelter. Once in the Second Chance Program, the dogs are evaluated and then trained and socialized with the help of a team of volunteers. To read more about the program and see photos and stories of happy graduates, go to www.TwinCedarK9.com
Secretary
Lisa Peterson joined the board of A-Pal in early 2020. She has been a steady volunteer with the Amador County Animal Control and Adoption Center for almost 10 years. She is a dog walker, chairman of the shelter’s Promotions Committee and a member of Rusty’s Fund for Shelter Animals. Prior to retirement, she was a paralegal and performed office management and administration with law, biotech and consulting firms. She has been a full-time resident of Amador County since 2013.
Lisa Peterson joined the board of A-Pal in early 2020. She has been a steady volunteer with the Amador County Animal Control and Adoption Center for almost 10 years. She is a dog walker, chairman of the shelter’s Promotions Committee and a member of Rusty’s Fund for Shelter Animals. Prior to retirement, she was a paralegal and performed office management and administration with law, biotech and consulting firms. She has been a full-time resident of Amador County since 2013.
Treasurer
Joan Martin joined A-PAL in 1999 after relocating to Amador County from the Bay Area. Her love of animals led her to volunteer her time and accounting expertise to A-PAL as Treasurer. She assisted Kathy Schmidt in starting the Save the Kittens Program as the first foster mom. After taking a hiatus, Joan returned to A-PAL as Co-Treasurer to Sally Trestrail. She is proud to be part of this progressive organization, which has done so much to save the lives of domestic animals in Amador County. Joan and her husband share their lives with two giant dogs and four cats.
Joan Martin joined A-PAL in 1999 after relocating to Amador County from the Bay Area. Her love of animals led her to volunteer her time and accounting expertise to A-PAL as Treasurer. She assisted Kathy Schmidt in starting the Save the Kittens Program as the first foster mom. After taking a hiatus, Joan returned to A-PAL as Co-Treasurer to Sally Trestrail. She is proud to be part of this progressive organization, which has done so much to save the lives of domestic animals in Amador County. Joan and her husband share their lives with two giant dogs and four cats.
Director of Publicity and Marketing
April Marie Hancock started with A-PAL in January of 2013 and began taking photographs of adoptable cats and kittens to share on social media as a member of the "Kitty Committee." Later in the year, she joined the board of directors as Director of Publicity and Marketing. including responsibility for social media. April Marie is also a small mammal wildlife rehabber with Tri County Wildlife Care. Her love for all animals, wild and domestic, has driven her pursuits in animal rescue..
April Marie Hancock started with A-PAL in January of 2013 and began taking photographs of adoptable cats and kittens to share on social media as a member of the "Kitty Committee." Later in the year, she joined the board of directors as Director of Publicity and Marketing. including responsibility for social media. April Marie is also a small mammal wildlife rehabber with Tri County Wildlife Care. Her love for all animals, wild and domestic, has driven her pursuits in animal rescue..
Director
Wendy Robles moved to Amador County in 1992 after growing up in Calaveras. She works as a customer service representative in the Jackson office of AAA part time, allowing her to continue her work with Amador Hospice. She’s been an animal lover her entire life, caring for her own horses, dogs and cats as a child, raising and showing pigs in her local 4-H, and supporting the Calaveras County Fair. Since marrying and moving to Amador, attending “Strut your Mutt” was only the beginning. Pretty soon she was asked to ‘help out," and she has never stopped. Recognizing the importance of spaying and neutering pets was only part of what made her want to support A-PAL Humane Society. Being a part of something that is truly making a difference to the welfare of animals and helping the community she lives in makes it all worthwhile.
Wendy Robles moved to Amador County in 1992 after growing up in Calaveras. She works as a customer service representative in the Jackson office of AAA part time, allowing her to continue her work with Amador Hospice. She’s been an animal lover her entire life, caring for her own horses, dogs and cats as a child, raising and showing pigs in her local 4-H, and supporting the Calaveras County Fair. Since marrying and moving to Amador, attending “Strut your Mutt” was only the beginning. Pretty soon she was asked to ‘help out," and she has never stopped. Recognizing the importance of spaying and neutering pets was only part of what made her want to support A-PAL Humane Society. Being a part of something that is truly making a difference to the welfare of animals and helping the community she lives in makes it all worthwhile.
Director of Education*
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<Vacant> SEE JOB DESCRIPTION
