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HayleySchendel
Mrs.VickiCary
WRIT1301
24March2016
KeepingtheLightAlive
AnEthnographyofCrossroadsAnimalShelter

PREFACE
Somewoulddescribemeasatypical17yearoldgirl,becauseIswoonoveradorable
thingsandhavealwaysbeenkeenonhappilyendingfairytales.Whenthecommercialswiththe
sad,abusedanimalscomeontothetelevision,Imeltlikebutterinafryingpan.Myfamilyhas
alwayshadatleastonefurryfriendroamingourhouse,andIwouldconsidermyselfasincere
animallover.Ivealwaysfeltsympathyforanimalswithoutahomeorowner,whichiswhyI
havechosentowritemyethnographyontheCrossroadsAnimalShelterinBuffalo,Minnesota.
Myfamilyhasneveradoptedapetfromananimalshelter,becauseweveheardsomany
horrorstoriesoffamiliestakinghomeilltemperedpets.Wehavealwaysassumeditsafestto
takeinananimalwhohasntgrowncoldfromabuse,doesnthavepossiblediseases,andwillnot
sufferfromanyemotionalbaggage.Iveneversteppedfootintoabuildingfilledwithhomeless
animals,andImrathernervous.Itbreaksmyhearttoimaginemyownpetsbeinghomeless.
Justlikehumans,animalshavenocontroloverthesituationintowhichtheyareborn,andthe
animalswhofindlovinghomesarethemostfortunate.

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Aftercontactingthefacility,Iwasinvitedtoobserveduringanyoftheirvisitinghours.I
expectthesheltertohaveagloomyatmospherewithanabundanceofsadlookinganimals
however,Iimaginetherearemanyjoyousadoptionsthatlightentheemotionaldrainage.I
assumetheemployeeswhointeractwiththeanimalseverydaywillbesomewhatprotectiveof
themespeciallyofthecritterswhohavestayedthereforalargechunkoftime.Iexpectthe
caretakersandvolunteerswillbeoverlykindandcollaboratewelltogether.Iamanxiousto
meetallofthesepeople,alongwiththeanimals,andfigureoutwhatmotivatesthemtosurround
themselvesinsuchaheartwrenchingenvironmenteveryday.

BACKGROUNDINFORMATION
Animalcontrolhasalwaysbeenanissue,andithasonlyworsenedthroughtheyears.
Datingbacktocolonialtimes,poundsandshelterswereusedtocontainanycompanionanimals
foundaroundthetown(Animal).Poundsarecommunityfacilitiesthatcontainanimalsfound
onthestreets,buttheyarenotcapableofholdingthemintheircareforverylong.Oftentimes,a
poundwillsendtheanimaltoalocalshelterorhaveiteuthanizedputtodeathbyaninjectionif
anownerdoesnotclaimtherunawaywithinaweek.Ananimalshelter,ontheotherhand,
usuallywillkeeptheanimaluntiltheyareadopted.
Eachyear,around7.6millioncompanionanimalsareputintosheltersaroundtheUnited
States.Ofthose7.6million,approximately2.7millionwillbeeuthanized(Shelter).35%of
shelteranimalswilllosetheirlives,becausetheresimplyisnotenoughroomtocontainevery
stray.Eachday10,000humansand70,000puppiesandkittensarebornintheUnitedStates
(Crossroads).Thesehighnumbersarearesultofanimalsnotbeingspayedorneutered.Ifthese

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rapidbirthratescontinue,therewillneverbeahomeforeveryanimal.Sincethisproblem
exists,millionsofhealthyandlovingstraysareputtodeathasasolutiontoanimalcontrol.
Accordingtotheirwebsite,CrossroadsmissionisToprovideacomprehensiveand
compassionateservicetothepeopleoftheWrightCountyareathroughprotection,care,shelter,
placement,andeducationforthedignityandwellbeingofallanimals.Crossroadswasopened
in2001byasmallgroupofdedicatedvolunteerswhowantedtohelphomelessandabandoned
animals.Today,theyareanonprofitcharitybasedorganizationthathasaplacementrateof
94%.Theshelterhelpsover500animalseveryyear,andtheyveryrarelyeuthanizetheanimals.
CrossroadsisopentothepubliceveryFridaythroughSunday,buttherestoftheweekis
reservedfortheemployeestocleanandfostertheanimals(Crossroads).
CrossroadsAnimalShelterisdependentonitssixstaffmembersandmultiplevolunteers.
Approximately12volunteerscomeinritually,anddozensofothersattendafewtimesayear.
Aftertakinganhourlongvolunteeringclass,anyoneisallowedtocomeintotheshelterand
socializewiththeanimals.Thesevolunteershelptheanimalsgainconfidenceinthemselves,
whichmakesthembetterpetswhenanadoptioncomesaround.Crossroadsacceptsbothstray
animalsandsurrenderedpets,andtheywillcarefortheanimaluntilitgetsadopted.The
majorityoftheanimalsarestrays,whichmeanssomeonefounditlivingonthestreets.
However,thereareafewsurrenderedpetsintheshelter.Thismeanstheanimalsprevious
ownerwasnotabletoordidntwanttocareforitanylonger(Snavely).

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OBSERVATIONALDATAANDANALYSIS
28February2016(12:00p.m.4:00p.m.)4March2016(3:00p.m.6:00p.m.)
AsmytirescrunchedtoastoponthegravelparkinglotofCrossroadsAnimalShelter,
myinsidessquirmedwithanxiety.Meetingnewpeoplehasneverbeenmyforte,andIwas
dreadingtheawkwardsilencesthatawaitedmeinsideoftheblueandwhitebuilding.A
fluorescentpinkpaperplasteredonthedoorcaughtmeoffguard.Itread,CAUTION:CATS
ATPLAY.Notentirelysureifthesignwassarcasticornot,Icautiouslysteppedinsideofthe
shelter.Asmilinggirl,whoappearedtobeofcollegeage,approachedme.Hernamewas
Alyssa,andshehadbeenworkingattheshelterforthreeyears.Alyssahadchestnutcoloredhair
thathungjustbelowhershoulderblades,eyesasblueasCaribbeanwaters,andasmilethat
brightenedtheroom.ShehadgrownupinBuffalo,wenttocollegetobecomeavet,andthen
becamesidetrackedbyherjobattheshelter.Alyssaiscurrentlyplanningtotransferintoavet
clinic,butherattachmenttotheshelterismakingitdifficulttomoveon.Iinstantlyfelta
connectiontoherpeppypersonalityasshegavemeatour.
Thefacilitywassmall,andIwasamazedthatsomanyanimalscouldbecaredforinsuch
limitedspace.Themainroomwasconnectedtotwosmallerplayroomsandtwoclosed
doorsdesignatedforstaffonly.Thewallswereconcealedwithpostersofinformationabout
beingagoodpetowner,inspirationalmessages,andflyersforlostanimals.Anenormous
donationjarfilledwithtarnishedcoinsandcashsatnearthedoormakingtheurgencyfor

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donationsobvious.Theseartifactsrevealhowdeeplythestaffmemberscarefortheanimalsand
theirfutures.Softmeowsfilledtheair,andIrealizedtherewereonlycatsintheshelter.25
cageswerespreadaroundtheroom,andonehumansizedcagesatinthecorner.Iassumedthis
artifactwasusedwhenvolunteersandvisitorswantedtoplaywiththecats.Eachcagehada
whitetagfilledwithinformationaboutthecatname,age,andbackground.Greenstickerson
thecatsinformationtagindicatedthecritterdoesnotgetalongwithotheranimals.Inoticed
mostgreenstickeredcatshadbeenintheshelterforalongperiodoftime.
Agiantcattower,centeredbetweenallofthecages,stoodaroundsixfeettall,andhad
manydifferentplatforms.IwastakenabackwhenIsawitwasengravedwiththenameofJacob
Jones,aboyfrommyclasswhotragicallypassedawayinMayof2014.
WhenJacobpassedaway,hisfamilydonatedalotofmoneytotheshelter.Weusedthe
moneytobuythetower,andnowwehavesomethingtoalwaysremindpeopleofhisspecial
personality,Alyssasaidwithabittersweetsmile.ThisartifactwasatributetoJacobJones,and
Ifoundittouching.Evenwhiletrappedintheirowncloudofgrief,Jacobsfamilyhadfounda
waytobenefitumpteenhomelesscats.
Crossroadshadapreponderanceofunwantedcats.Homelessanimalssufferareputation
ofbeingmoody,old,andunhealthywhicharenotthedesiredtraitsofmostfamilies.Since
thereweresomanycatstobetakencareof,theemployeesdidnthaveenoughtimetoprovide
eachanimalwiththeattentiontheyneeded.VolunteersplayavitalroleatCrossroads.Inorder
forthecatstobecomemorepeoplefriendly,theymustspendtimewithhumansandbetaughtto
interact.

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ThefirstvolunteerIencounteredwasateenagegirlwithblondehairflowingdowntoher
lowerback.Shekepttoherselfandbroughtthreedifferentcatsintothedesignatedplayroom.
Thesmileplasteredonthegirlsfaceshowedhowmuchsheadoredthecats.Whilewaltzing
around,shecradledthefurryanimalslikebabiesandhummedanunfamiliartune.Thesecond
volunteercaughtmeoffguard.WhileIwasexaminingthelostpetbillboard,thedoorslammed,
andadeep,wheezyvoicestartledme.
IthinkIlltakeRaytoday!Yeah.IwantRay!WhereisRay?!AsIwhippedmyhead
aroundtoseewhowasyelling,animageofRubeusHagridfromtheHarryPotterseriesinstantly
cametomind.Thismanwaslarge,bulky,andhadabillowyredbeard.Alyssagrabbeda
greenstickeredblackcatandcarriedittotheman.Hesmiledamouthfulofcrookedteethand
broughtRayintothehumansizedcagetoplay.
Rayhadbeenintheshelterforthreeyears.Hisglossyblackcoatshoneinthelightfrom
thewindows.Thecathadanoddmarkbyhislefteyemostlikelyfromabrawlwithanother
animal.Blackcatsareknowntobebadluck,andthisstereotypehasleftmultipleblackcats
unwanted.Raywasobviouslyaccustomedtotheroutineofthismancomingtovisit,becausethe
normallyunsocialcatwaspurringwhilehisvisitorpethim.
ThebizarremanmademeowingnoisesatthecatuntilRayreciprocatedwithasavage
hiss.Hebegancrawlingalloverthebeardedman,andIhadtocontrolmygigglesasIheardhim
repeatmonotonously,Ouch.Ouch.Ouch.Ouch.Ouch.ThemannevertriedtopullRayoffof
hisheadhejustremainedstillandallowedthecattousehimasaplayground.Everyone
seemedaccustomedtothisman,andnoonebotheredhim.

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IcomeinhereeverySSundayfortwohours.Iliketoplaywiththeccats,andthey
likeitwhenIvvisitthem,themansaidwhilepeeringdownatthecatscratchinghistattered
boots.Heusedtohaveafavoritecat,butsomebodyadoptedherwithoutlettinghimsay
goodbye.Thebeardedman,whoIdiscoveredwasnamedGary,foughtintheVietnamWar,and
haddreamtofadoptingtwocatsfromtheshelterformanyyears.Spendingtimewiththecats
hasbeenGarystherapyforthepastfiveyears,andtheritualvisitsareanimportantpartofhis
life.
Gary,justasmanyofthesheltercats,hasbeenacceptedintothissubculture.His
peculiarcharismawouldnotbewelcomedinsociety,butwhileattheshelter,Garyis
safeguardedfromreality.He,alongwithmanyothervolunteersandemployees,receivesthe
sameacceptancehehasprovidedforthecats.Thisinverserelationshipiswhathasdrawnmany
lostsoulsintotheshelter.
WhileGaryandRaycontinuedtoentertaineachother,amiddleagewomanwithlong
curlyhairsatonabenchnearthedoor.Shewasdressedindarkcolors,andherfacehelda
contentexpression.Hergentlesmileindicatedthatshewasopentoaconversation.Twoofthe
volunteerswereher17yearoldtwindaughters.TheyvebeenvolunteeringatCrossroadsfor
fiveyears,andtheyhaveendedupadoptingmorethan10ofthesheltercats.
Sarah,theshyerofthetwo,hasalwayshadissuesconnectingwithpeople.Shelights
upwhenshespendstimewiththecats,becausesheknowstheywontjudgeherinanyway,the
womansaidwithadeepsigh.Shecontinuesonabouttheothertwin,Jordanjustenjoyshelping
thecats.Shehasalwayslookedforopportunitiestohelppeopleout,andIthinkshehasrealized

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howthecatsimpacthersister.Jordandefinitelyhastakenoverthebigsisterrole,andIlove
comingheretowatchtheminteract.Thisshelterisamagicalplace.
Sarahhadherhairtiedbackintoatightponytail,andspentmostofhertimewalking
aroundwithacatnestledinherarms.Jordan,ontheotherhand,wasconstantlyonthemove.
Shespoketovariouspeoplearoundtheshelter,andhercontagiouslaughterechoedthroughthe
room.Bothofthetwinsfeltathomeintheshelter,andIgottheimpressionthatthesetwogirls
werenotalwayscomfortableoutsideofthisplace.Theywereabitquirky,andIwouldimagine
theyhavehadissuesmakingfriends.Crossroadshasbecometheshelteredplacewheretheycan
bethemselves,makeadifference,andspendtimeasafamily.
Manyothervisitorscameintotheshelter.Eachtimesomeonenewenteredthelively
room,thefirstquestionaskedwas,Doyouguyshaveanydogsorkittens?Thisseemedtobe
ritual.Afterbeingtoldtherewerentcurrentlyanydogsorkittens,manypeopleleftbeforeeven
lookingattheoldanddesperatecats.Ascountlesspeoplewalkedoutofthedoor,thehopeful
energyoftheshelterbegantowither.Alyssasbrowbecamefurrowedasthethirdperson
retreatedfromtheshelterinthathour.
Idontunderstandhowpeoplecancomeinhereclaimingtheywanttodoagoodthing
andgiveananimalalovinghome,butwhentheanimalsdontmeettheirpreconceivedstandards
theyturnaroundandleave.Ifsomeoneactuallywantstomakeadifference,theweightandeye
coloroftheanimalshouldhavenoimpactontheirdecision,shevoiced.Asmorepeople
continuedtoflowintotheshelter,Alyssaroutinelyswoopedintoassist.Alyssawasthecats
onlychanceoffindingahome.Sherepresentedthemwithawelcomingdemeanor,anddidher

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besttoshowhowspecialeachofthecatswere.Ifshedidntstandupforthem,nobody
wouldwhichleavesthecatseternallytrappedintheshelter.
Manypeoplecameinmerelytolookattheanimalstheyhadnointentionofadopting.
Oneparticularcouplestoodouttomefromthemomenttheyhobbledthroughthedoorway.It
wasanoldmanandwomanpresumablyhusbandandwife.Theoldmanhadwirygrayhairand
waswearingclothingthatmayhavebeeneventoodressyforSundaymass.Themantrailed
behindthewoman,watchinghereverymoveasifhislifedependedonit.Theoldwomanhad
voluminouswhitecurlsontopofhermadeupface,anddeepcanalsofwrinklessurroundedher
mouth.Shewalkedtoeverycage,madebabycoos,andsaidsomelovingwordsbeforemoving
ontothenextcage.
Herhusbandcontinuedtofollowhereverymove,andheexplainedwithagrin,Shejust
lovesmeetinallofthelittleguys.AndIenjoyseeinghergetsuchakickoutofit.Itwasvery
easytoseehowmuchhelovedtheoldwoman.Whileshewasgigglingataparticularlyplump
cat,hecouldntholdbackablissfulsmile.PerhapsthisiswhyAlyssaandhercoworkers
choosetoworkinsuchaglumatmosphereeveryday.Theyenjoywatchingpeoplelightupwhile
connectingwiththeanimals.Crossroadsdoesntonlysaveanimalsfromdespairhumanswith
heavyheartsmayfindsanctuarywithintheundesiredbutlovingcritters.
Afterthemajorityofvisitorshadleft,Alyssabegantheritualcleanup.Hernormally
bubblyspiritseemedgloomy,andthebagsunderhereyesshowedexhaustion.Shehadspent
threeyearsworkingatCrossroads,andnowshewaspreparingtomoveontoarealcareer.
Thisisntjustajob.Itsyourlife.Ifwearentheretotakecareoftheanimals,they
cantsurvive.Imtheunofficialsupervisoroftheshelter,andIspendalmosteverysingleday

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here.Itsactuallyquiteexhausting.Shecontinuedwithahalfheartedlaugh,IguessIve
chosencatsovermysociallife!
Alyssawasextremelyoverwhelmedbyallofherresponsibilities.Oneoftheirstaff
membershadrecentlyleftwithoutnotice,soalloftheextraworkwasdroppedontoher
shoulders.Alyssawas,inaway,trapped.Ifsheleftthesheltertopursueherdreams,the
animalswouldsuffer.Stressandworryshonethroughherforcedsmiles.Workingattheshelter
isnotajobfilledwithrainbowsandhappyendings,itisactuallyalotofheartacheandanguish.
Itjustamazesmehowawfulpeoplecanbe.Wevehadpeoplecomeintotheshelter
withknives,orsometimestheyeventhreatentopunchus.Ithoughtwewouldneedtocallthe
policeonly20minutesbeforeyoushoweduptoday,shespilledtomeasacatjumpedontoher
lap.Apparently,whenshehadrefusedtoreturnaGermanShepherdtoitsabusiveowner,the
giantmanhadraisedhisfisttoherfacebeforescamperingoutoftheshelter.Sometimespeople
overreacttotheiranimalsbehavior,decideitisntworthkeeping,anddumptheanimalontothe
shelter.ThisGermanShepherdhadnippedattheowner,andthemandecidedthedogeither
neededtobekilledortakeninbytheshelter.Ofcourse,Alyssaacceptedthedogwithopen
arms.
Idontknowwhatthatmanwasdoingtothissweetheartofadog,butthereisnowayhe
wouldhavenippedwithoutbeingprovokedinsomeway.Ifeellikehalfofthetimepeople
arenttellingthetruthwhentheyabandontheirpets,becausetheyareembarrassedof
themselves,Alyssasaidwithafewdisappointedshakesofherhead.

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Overthepastthreeyears,Alyssahasadoptedthreeofthesheltercats.Shetakeshome
theonessheknowswillneverbeadoptedontheirown.Manyofthecatslosetheirsparkoflife
whilelivinginacage,andAlyssafindsthistobeoneofthemostdifficultpartsofherjob.
Iwatchithappen.Thelightleavestheireyes,andyoucantelltheyhavegivenup.I
guessmyjobistokeepthelightalive,shesaidassheglancedaroundatthecagedcats
surroundingus.Ithinkmanypeopletakeadvantageofanimalshelters.Itstheireasywayout
ifsomethinggoesbadlywiththeirpet.Theydumptheirissuesontous,anditreallyhasbecome
overwhelmingforme,Alyssaadmits.
Itisexpectedthattheownerofanabandonedpetwilldonatetotheshelterevenifitis
onlyfivecentstoshowsomeappreciationtowardsthepeopletakingcareoftheirpet.
Crossroadsdependsonthedonationsmanypeopleprovide,becausetheyarentahuge,
wellknownfacility.However,Alyssatoldmethatthisistoomuchtoaskofsomepeople.
Itishardtofindthemotivationtoworkheresomedays.Peoplearerude,butImstill
obligatedtosmileandkeepmycalm.AnditsextremelydifficulttogiveSOmuchlovetothe
cats,butreceivenoaffectionback,shemumbled.Itseemedlikeshewastryingtoconvince
herselfthatitwasokaytomoveonandbeginherlife.TheshelterhadbeenAlyssashomefor
manyyears,andImsuresheisscaredtoleavehersafetynetbehind.JustlikeGary,thetwins,
andthecats,AlyssahadfoundhernicheinsideofCrossroadsacceptingsubculture.
EventhroughthechallengingaspectsofworkingatCrossroadsAnimalShelter,Alyssa
declareditapositiveexperience.Shehaslearnedmanyvaluablelessonsonhowtocopewith
difficultpeople,andgetstoexperiencethejoyofseeingananimalfindalovinghome.The
relationshipsformedandlessonslearnedhaveshapedherintotheconfidentwomansheistoday.

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Oneofthebestfeelingsiswatchingoneoftheantisocialanimalstrulyconnectwitha
person,Alyssasaidwithglowingeyes.Throughalloftheupsanddowns,Alyssaandher
coworkersstillfindapurposeinworkingattheshelter.Thepuresatisfactiontheyreceivefrom
watchingtheanimalsandhumansfindacceptance,security,andloveiswhatcarriesthem
throughthegloomierdays.

CONCLUSION
Aftermytimeattheshelter,IspentnumeroushoursthinkingaboutAlyssaandtheother
uniquepersonalitiesIhadencounteredduringmyvisits.Peopleofmanybackgroundscomeinto
theshelterandfindrefugeintheacceptingatmosphere.Forthissubculture,CrossroadsAnimal
Shelterhasbecomemuchmorethanahomeforstraycatsitistheirsafehaven.
Ihadexpectedthesheltertobeanupliftingplacewheremiracleshappeneveryday
however,myassumptionsprovedtobewrong.Manydaysaresmotheredwithsorrowand
heartbreak,becausetherecannotbeahappyendingforeverylonelyspiritintheshelter.
Crossroadsisnotonlyarefugefortheanimalsitisalsoasanctuaryforhumanswhodontfit
intosociety.Therearemanylostsoulsintheshelter.Someanimals,alongwithsome
peoplelikeGarywillneverfindatruehome.However,thereareothers,likeAlyssa,whohave
theabilitytomoveon,butarehavingadifficulttimeleavingtheshelterbehind.Theyhave
foundcomfortandstabilityinthislifestyle.Aftercomingacrosscountlesslonelyanimalsand
humans,theyhavelearnedtovaluetheimportanceofacceptance.

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NotonlyisCrossroadsadwellingforlonelyspirits,butitisalsoaplacewhereonecan
gotoreceivethesatisfactionofmakingadifference.Thevolunteersandemployeesatthe
shelterfindvalueinprovidingadependablehabitatforoutcastedsouls.Spendingtimewith
Alyssaandthevolunteershasshownmehowimpactfulasenseofbelongingcanbe.Helping
homelessanimalsprovidesvolunteersandemployeeswithasenseofpurpose,anditalsogives
themanopportunitytofindshelterineachother.

WorksCited
AnimalshelteringintheUnitedStates:Yesterday,today,andtomorrow.dvm360.com.UMB,1
October2007.Web.28February2016.
CrossroadsAnimalShelter.crossroadsshelter.org,n.d.Web.27February2016.
Knipfer,Ms.PersonalInterview.4March2016.
ShelterIntake&Surrender.ASPCA.ASPCA,n.d.Web.27February2016.
Snavely,Alyssa.PersonalInterview.4March2016.