.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} A group of volunteers networking with organizations around the country with one goal in mind: to stop what they see as the unnecessary killing of animals. That’s the idea behind Raccoon Valley Animal Sanctuary and Rescue, an organization that has worked to serve the pet population of Central Iowa for more than a decade.

“No animal should die to make room for another animal,” said Joe Pundzak, president of Raccoon Valley’s board of directors. “That puts us at odds with other organizations.”

Raccoon Valley was started in 1994 by a group of dedicated animal lovers who thought there was a better way to help abused and abandoned pets than the standard shelter system. But, Pundzak said, eventually the organization became a traditional shelter, euthanizing up to half the animals it took in due to lack of space.

“When I became executive director in 2004, we became a no-kill organization,” he said. “And that’s how we operate today.”

There are two main reasons people abandon a pet, Pundzak said. The first is economic, such as moving to a residence where they aren’t allowed to keep pets. The second is behavior problems. In cases of the first type, Raccoon Valley works to place the pet in a temporary home until a permanent home can be found.

“Dogs and cats don’t do well in a shelter setting,” Pundzak said. “Animals in an at-home program are much more adoptable. We’ve saved around 1,600 lives with this system.”

Raccoon Valley works with rescue organizations around the country to match each pet with an owner, trying to avoid bad matches that usually result in the animal going back to a shelter.

For behavior problems, the organization works with the pet owner to keep the animal in the home through in-home consultation and owner training.

“It’s all about exercise, discipline and affection,” Pundzak said.

Volunteer opportunities abound within the organization.

The main support the group needs, however, is financial. Raccoon Valley pays all veterinary bills for the animals in its care, and its adoption fees of $150 don’t come close to covering the expenses.

“We get no money from the government,” Pundzak said. “So the only way we survive is with donations.”

The group is also working on expanding its advocacy campaign during next year’s legislative session, such as tightening lax laws regarding animal cruelty and neglect.