Getting adoptable pets out in the community to help them find permanent homes is one of the goals of the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Berks County's mobile adoption unit.

The vehicle, housing a number of adoptable cats and kittens, made a stop at French Creek State Park in Elverson during a "Pancakes and Pets" breakfast offered by the site's park rangers on July 19.

"We usually do two to three events each month," noted Heather Potteiger, ARL office and purchasing manager, adding that this is the first time that the mobile unit has visited French Creek State Park. "We are able to take the mobile unit out for adoptions and for microchipping and clinics. It's our way to get out to community (members) who might not necessarily be able to make it to our facility."

Those interested in adopting a pet from the mobile unit can take it home the same day after completing an adoption profile and meeting with the ARL adoption counselors. "We do the same thing at the shelter. Everyone we bring here today can go home if someone is interested," said Potteiger. "We also do some education and talk about the programs we have."

The air-conditioned mobile vehicle, which was unveiled in April of 2024, can house up to 18 kennels, which vary in size to accommodate different animals. The adoptable pets can be seen from the outside of the unit. The vehicle also has an exam table and a refrigerator to store vaccines and other medications.

Staff members and volunteers are on hand to help whenever the mobile unit is scheduled. Additional volunteers are needed. "We have a volunteer coordinator, Jen Raney, and we have online profiles that a person would fill out to let us know what their interests are and what their time schedules are," said Potteiger. "We have volunteers that come to events, do dishes and laundry and volunteers that do data entry, write thank you notes and make phone calls. We always try to match people where their interests are."

She noted that the Berks ARL has an outdoor donation shed where the community can donate blankets and towels for the shelter animals. "We have volunteers that take care of our outdoor donation shed. They sort through and determine what we can use in the shelter. If we can't use it, we (store it), and Opportunity House comes and picks it up once a month," she explained. "We also have a relationship with CommunityAid. If we are not using (these items), we don't want to throw things away."

The ARL is also in need of fosters to house cats and dogs until their forever homes can be found. "All supplies are offered. We provide food, the litter and the medication. We need someone to (offer) space outside the kennel," Potteiger said, noting that people may be reluctant to foster because it may be difficult to give the animals to their new owners. "It gets easier as you do it, and it's (rewarding) to be part of that process."

The Animal Rescue League of Berks County, located at 58 Kennel Road, Birdsboro, is a nonprofit organization that cares for more than 5,000 animals each year, helping them to find permanent, loving homes or reuniting them with their owners. The ARL also offers human/animal support resources, low-cost veterinary services, animal control programs and animal cruelty and humane law investigation throughout Berks County.

To learn more, call 610-373-8830 or visit www.berksarl.org or www.facebook.com/berksARL.