Four Paws Emporium aids animals

It is a unique shop.

Benevolent hands donate the goods, volunteers turn it into cash, and the little critters get all the benefit.

Four Paws Emporium in Old Town Cottonwood was established by Animal Aid Network in an effort to sterilize pets and eliminate the need for euthanization of unwanted animals.  The shop carries a variety of merchandise, including antiques, new, used and collectible items.

Four Paws recently moved to a larger location in Old Town and is now being managed by the AAN Board of Directors.

Debbie Engle, board president, said the AAN felt that "thrift store" did not adequately define all Four Paws has to offer.  Therefore, the name was changed to Emporium.

A non profit group, AAN received program funding from an Arizona Community Foundation grant.

Engle has owned several businesses and has worked with non profit organizations for more than 15 years.  Lori Erickson and Judy Belden have managed a thrift store previously and between them have over 20 years of experience.

"Our donors are concerned with animal overpopulation in the Verde Valley," Engle said.  "Our consumers are people who know value and have a concern for the planet.  Much of our merchandise is quality, used items, which we sell at a huge discount."

The low prices are available because everything is donated and the clerks are volunteers, which keeps overhead minimal.

The motto of Animal Aid Network is, "We help prevent euthanization."

One unaltered cat can produce 420,000 cats in seven years, and a dog can produce up to 67,000 dogs in six years.  Many must be killed, and most will be puppies and kittens.

 "These birth rates together with the estimated growth of the Verde Valley will mean that more tax dollars that could be better spent on human services are going to be dedicated to animal control,"  Engle said.  "Prevention is the only solution, and there is only one answer to the animal overpopulation problem in the Verde Valley --- the spaying and neutering of pets."

She indicated the Four Paws Emporium will double or triple its display area in the next 10 years.  Currently, items not on display such as furniture are available at the organization's storage unit.

The store itself carries a nice selection of collector's dolls, housewares, children's clothes and even a crib.

"With the community's support, we do not think it is unrealistic to make sterilization affordable to all residents of the Verde Valley, making euthanization of adoptable pets obsolete," Engle said.