What started in 2009 as simply helping her daughter with a photography project quickly became a passion for Dari Oglesby. “We contacted Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue and started volunteering and taking pictures of all their cats. Then, we just got more and more involved,” she explained. “Fast forward and I am now the executive director and my daughter graduated two weeks ago from veterinary school. It's a lifestyle and a passion that is very important to our entire family.”
Oglesby feels that her job is to make a difference in the lives of pets and people. “Not only are pets lost and in need of a person, but a lot of times, people are lost, come in looking for something, and animals fill that void in their lives,” she shared. “We also take animals into memory care facilities. We go there, put a puppy in their lap, and all of a sudden, their eyes light up and people who haven’t spoken in years will speak.”
The rescue’s unique design and colorful atmosphere fosters the feeling of a fun, safe environment for both animals and people. “When you walk into most animal shelters, you're walking down an aisle with 20 to 50 dogs on either side. They're barking, it's scary for children to go into it, and it's a sad environment,” said Oglesby. “We wanted to create a family-friendly environment to educate youth and be a happy place for people to come and change not only the lives of the pets, but also the lives of the people that enter the shelter.”
“We have four to six animals in a cottage. They become a little pack, so the animals are less stressed and it's just an easier place to visit,” she added. “It's quiet and the animals are not barking and going crazy. We have a colorful, friendly playground that is not a sad place. We get the animals from sad places, bring them here, and provide the perfect place to bring your family to pick out a new pet.”
Currently, the rescue offers sheltering and adoption services, a donation-based food bank that provides pet food and supplies for those in need, a variety of educational opportunities, and community outreach programs. The new expansion, set to open in the spring of 2025, will provide more space and opportunities for services.
The new facility will provide additional educational space, including a hands-on learning facility for children, an expanded behavior and training facility, a community space available for events, and a full-service clinic for animals to receive vaccinations, microchips, and general care.
The rescue, which has a small paid staff, relies on community support through financial donations and volunteer hours to run successfully. Volunteers provide cat care, dog walking, take care of the kitchen and laundry duties, transport animals, and work events. Additionally, volunteers provide foster care for animals, which fills an important role in working with those who are especially young, have special needs, or are shy.
Oglesby encourages people to visit the rescue and see all they have to offer. “We’re different than any other shelter you’ve ever visited,” she said. “Stop by, schedule a tour, and come see what we’re doing.”
For more information on adopting a pet, ways to volunteer, and opportunities to contribute financially, visit nateshonoranimalrescue.org.
“We get the animals from sad places, bring them here, and provide the perfect place to bring your family to pick out a new pet.”
We wanted to create a family-friendly environment to educate youth and be a happy place for people to visit