MOUNT PLEASANT — A happy dog full of energy named Betty Boop play bows, has “zoomies,” and would love a big yard in which to run and play.
“We cannot wait to provide that for her and our other dogs,” said Emily Davis, director of All God’s Creatures — a busy, 5,000-square-foot new animal shelter in Mount Pleasant.
All God’s Creatures and KILJ radio are hosting a radiothon on Saturday, Feb. 15, with a goal of raising $40,000 for an outdoor dog space at the shelter, 2205 E. Washington St.
The radiothon from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. will be at the shelter’s grand opening. Refreshments will be served, and adoptable pets will be available.
Inside the large, renovated building, the shelter intends to offer a stress-free, caring place for homeless dogs and cats, and in the future, smaller animals also.
“We are hoping to create a not only functional, but highly-enriching space for our dogs and our community,” said Davis.
“We prioritize fear-free practices, low barrier adoption, and community support. We work our hardest to ensure that every animal has the love and care they deserve,” she explained.
The effort has been “Connecting Hands and Paws since 2024,” says the website at agcshelter.org
The AGC continues its initial foster care services.
When a call came in July 2024 — before a building was secured — about six cats living in 90-degree temperatures inside an abandoned mobile home, AGC responded.
“Their owner had gone to an assisted living facility and thought she had lined up adequate care for her cats. Eventually a family member convinced her to let her check on them,” said Davis.
“The conditions were horrible, there was no air conditioning, and fleas were covering our legs upon entry. It appeared that the cats had not been cared for for quite some time,” she added. “We knew we needed to act.”
Two cats went to PAWS & More in Washington, Iowa, and four were left.
The two boys, Spook and Pillsbury were quickly adopted by their foster home, and after a few months of care, Finch and Sparrow, the two girls, went to a “very loving family,” said Davis.
“We were happy to be able to help, even without a facility. We are excited to see what the coming years look like and all the good we can accomplish with the help and support of our community,” she said.
Conditions elsewhere in the county called for a new animal rescue.
“Strays are a big problem in Henry County, cats particularly but dogs as well, and there is no longer a city/county contracted pound facility as of March 1, 2025,” explained Davis.
Funded by private donations and grants, All God’s Creatures “can roughly house 75 cats and 14 dogs, however we also have a foster program. We were able to house 50 kittens at one time in foster homes during our peak kitten season in 2024. We currently have 60-plus cats and dogs,” she said.
The shelter started “as an idea in 2018, not only seeing a large need for a place for stray and abandoned animals, but the impact that animal connections can have on people,” said Davis.
Originated through Mount Pleasant’s First Presbyterian Church with a board of directors, the shelter now is an independent non-profit with 501©3 status.
In 2021 came a “a generous bequest of $300,000,” and a portion of those funds paid for a down payment on the building.
The shelter was now “a very real possibility and not only a dream,” Davis said.
The rest of the funds went to a Capital campaign (formed in 2023), the shelter’s trap, neuter return (TNR) program and “animal outreach.”
The campaign raised more than $1.1 million.
Extensive building renovations started in March 2024 — first, the “cat side” and then installation of dog kennels.
“We are now fully licensed for both cats and dogs as an animal shelter and pound. We hope to expand in the future, to take small animals, but are starting with cats and dogs,” she said.
The Feb. 15 fundraiser is focused on the “enriching space” — where Davis said will have “large fenced-in and sheltered outdoor kennels so the dogs can get fresh air while we clean their indoor kennels, a play yard, and outdoor play equipment such as tunnels, toys, kitty pools and heavy-duty dog playground equipment.”
If enough is raised, Davis said, “we would love to add another, smaller dog area in the back of our building with outdoor kennels and a small play yard, so that our new arrivals can have a space to run as well.”
Besides the TNR which helps fund and facilitate spay and neuter for feral/community cats, All God’s Creatures has an animal outreach bringing animals to nursing homes and Hope Haven, with hopes to also eventually visit schools and the correctional facility.
AGC provides rehoming resources for pets needing new homes, and also operates a community pet pantry.
“People are able to come grab cat and/or dog food free of charge during challenging times,” she said, and while supplies are available, litter, litter boxes collars and leashes.
The community can help by donating much-needed shelter items such as blankets, pet beds, hard-sided carriers, paper towels, Dawn dish soap, gloves, dog and cat toys and treats, wet food for dogs and cats, heating pads and bottle feeding supplies, which “are all used frequently and very handy,” said Davis.
All God’s Creatures also has a booming volunteer program through software POINT, at pointapp.org/orgs/5003
Volunteers can sign up to, for example, clean and care for cats, walk dogs, socialize shy and scared cats, clean kennels and do “doggy enrichment.”
The radiothon will be broadcast on KILJ (105.5 FM, 98.5 FM, 1130 AM) and Mount Pleasant high-schools (MPTV) will livestream to All God’s Creatures Facebook page. All donations will be broadcast on the radio and the livestream.
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