It seems like in our younger years in life we tend to take a liking to animals. Animals can have that cheerful and playful attitude that we display when we are young children, which could be what draws us to them. Deanna Riley’s love for animals started when she was very young and has led her to the Camden County animal shelter.
“Honestly, I have always loved animals ever since I was a little girl,” Riley said.
“When I was little I told my mom that I wanted to build a huge room where I can put every dog or cat that was left alone, abused, or even just needed a place to stay and eat for a night,” she said.
Riley has always been around animals her entire life whether it was her own cat, animal babysitting, or riding horses. With remarks like those, it was evident that Riley would find herself working with animals in the future.
However Riley’s road to the Camden County animal shelter was different to say the least. After a wave-runner accident during her sophomore year of high school, she had no choice but to be homeschooled. It was there where she found out about the animal shelter.
“I was forced to become home schooled for 3 months due to the pain, and I needed to do something instead of just siting around the house doing absolutely nothing,” Riley said.
She started off as a volunteer but quickly found herself moving up in the ranks. “I started off volunteering, which consisted of walking and playing with the dogs and cats. After a year, I became the youth volunteer coordinator and mentor for people who wanted to become a volunteer,” Riley said.
She has put a wholehearted effort into working for the animal shelter. Unfortunately despite all of the positive work she has done there have been negative moments.
“I also traveled to the channel 3 news stations and was interviewed multiple times for and about the animal shelters,” Riley said.
“After that I then worked in the ICU giving medications and taking care of the sick. Finally, I took part in the exam room, looking at slides and unfortunately putting an animal down.”
Even after an emotional situation in having to put an animal to rest, the good happens to out weigh the bad. Riley does everything she can to spread awareness about the animals in the animal shelter and the shelter itself.
“Every month I donate $100 to the shelter, which goes to either medications that we need or expansions for animals to move around,” Riley said.
“We have so many fundraisers and adoption specials, especially for every holiday like Halloween. Any black cat or dog is half priced.”
The reason why Riley wants to help animals is because she believes that animals don’t get their fair share of help or care.
“The major issue I have when it comes to animals is the fact that there are so many of them homeless or being abused. I wish that the rules were more strict when it came to animals and animal abuse,” Riley said.
“For example, letting dogs outside and not bringing them in. Letting cats be outside animals when they’re not meant to be. Also that the rules were more strict with animal abuse.”
Riley’s quest for the betterment of animals doesn’t just begin and end with the Camden Community animal shelter. She has even bigger plans for the future.
“I have actually thought about becoming a veterinarian many times and I still think about it, but knowing that I might have to put down another animal is heartbreaking,” Riley said.
“I also love criminal justice so I decided to have a criminology career with the Canine Unit (K9).”
Before she looks to the future, Riley is more focused on her immediate goal as the holiday season approaches.
“Every year for Christmas, we have a goal at C.C.A.S. to get around 100-3000 animals adopted out of our shelter to become the greatest Christmas present for families,” Riley said.
Riley has a heart for animals and has done everything in her will power to help them. Who would have thought that a wave runner injury would be the starting point for all that Riley has accomplished at her time at the shelter? I guess we could say in Riley’s case, everything happens for a reason and the outcome has looked very bright thus far.
