Simmons’ love of animals goes back many years

It has been a lifelong love of animals that began before birth. Both Ken Simmons’ mother and grandmother were animal lovers. His grandmother had cocker spaniels and he has a picture of his mother holding her cat when she was just a teen.

“And my aunt in California was involved in a pet rescue,” Simmons said.

As for himself, Simmons said he has always been a cat person. He used to help at Dr. Jelmberg’s veterinarian clinic when it was in Othello by taking pets that came in that needed extra care.

“We’d pick them up and care for them,” Simmons said. “We had some over the years no one wanted – with broken bones, missing eyes, etc. – we would just bring them home and take care of them.”

These days, he works closely with Adams County Pet Rescue. He has been a member since its inception many years ago, volunteering at each location, and joining the board of directors when it was determined that was the next step in making the shelter work.

In fact, the first pet rescue in Adams County was in Washtucna, Simmons said.

“It was a little group that rescued pets there and eventually, came to Othello and hosted a meeting,” he said. “My mother and I went to the meeting and started the pet rescue here. That’s been 10 or 12 years ago.”

Not long after that, others joined and the group kept growing.

“There were a lot of people involved and we made it work,” Simmons said.

After several moves, the group now has a permanent location on Bench Road outside of town next to the fairgrounds. Simmons said they are tight-knit and what they do has grown tremendously, but the budget is staggering. That’s why he feels the greatest contribution anyone can make is money.

“Our maintenance costs are enormous,” Simmons said. “After this coronavirus is over, I wish more people would stop by and see what we’ve done with just volunteers and donations.”

He is also excited about the matching grant one of the shelter’s benefactors has set up for any donations that come in while the threat of COVID-19 looms.

“It’s a great way to double your money by donating to us,” Simmons said.

Another issue he promotes is spaying and neutering.

“All it takes is one cat and then you have seven more and then even more,” Simmons said. “That’s the bottom line.”

Ken and his wife Linda have two dogs – both rescues – and several cats, some indoors and some outside on their property in the country. He said all are rescues because of the number that are at shelters in need of homes. And everything they have is either spayed or neutered.

His cats also like to wander off and visit their neighbors, especially ones who don’t have other animals so they can get all the attention.

Retired now, Ken Simmons first came to Othello in 1970 when he got out of the service. When he married Linda, they moved to the Tri-Cities, then to Republic and Spokane. They returned to Othello 35 years ago when his parents retired.

He is also involved in the local car club and collects cat trinkets, such as statues and whirligigs.

Since retirement a year ago, his free time goes to helping the community by volunteering. He said he enjoys the Othello area and has always tried to give back in some way.

“It’s just one of those things you do all your life,” Ken Simmons said.

Adams County Pet Rescue is located at 1961 Bench Road east of the fairgrounds. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The facility is closed Mondays and Thursdays for cleaning.

To contact ACPR, call (509) 488-5514 or email adopt@AdamsCountyPetRescue. Be sure to visit the website at www.adamscountypetrescue.com and like their Facebook page.