Tom Connors is greeted by barks and wagging tails when he gets to work.

The former Weatherly mayor is director of the Carbon County Animal Shelter.

The dogs call the shelter home until they find their forever homes.

The shelter, at 63 Broad St., Nesquehoning, provides food, shelter, grooming, veterinary care, walks and play time for the dogs.

Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner, a supporter of the shelter, announced this month that Debra and Robert Reis of Jim Thorpe donated $500 to the shelter.

Debra Reis said they made the donation in memory of their black lab, Dido, who passed away on Aug. 20 at age 15.

It wasn’t the couple’s first donation.

“I donated $500 when they were doing a yard sale as a fundraiser,” she said.

Connors “does such amazing work. He’s such a kind soul,” Reis said. “We try to donate as much as we can.”

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lehighton, has been making $1,000 donations to the dog shelter and the cat shelter, Carbon County Friends of Animals, for years.

The donations grow from a bequest by the late Mary and Melvin Moyer, longtime parishioners, said church treasurer Kay Becker.

The bequest named Trinity and the shelters, among other entities, she said.

“We make sure to give them money every year, usually about $1,000,” Becker said.

Rose Reese, of Jim Thorpe, donated $75 from a recent book sale of “Tia’s Journey to Faith.”

The book details efforts to find Tia, Reese’s dachshund who went missing two years ago.

Connors, who has been with the shelter for nine years, is grateful for the help.

“We’re very blessed here in Carbon County,” Connors said. “Those kindnesses keep you going. On a bad day, it really lifts you up.”

The county, which operates the shelter, manages the funding well.

Last year, there was $57,384.04 in donations; $127,758.28 from the K9 Trust Fund, and $6,630 from K9 service fees, said county Controller Mark A. Sverchek.

“The dog shelter is not only a facility to adopt mistreated or stray dogs, it also provides a service to county municipality police departments,” Ahner said.

Ahner said municipalities contribute a total of approximately $8,700 per year.

Ahner said the county has done upgrades to the shelter, including blacktop, lighting and sun shelters. He said a new HVAC system is planned.

“This is not just for the dogs but for the staff’s health as well. We’re hoping to have the system installed before the end of the year,” he said.

Five miles away, the Carbon County Friends of Animals shelters and cares for homeless cats.

The nonprofit organization started in 1998. It provides low-cost spaying and neutering and educational outreach.

Although it’s called Carbon County Friends of Animals, unlike the dog shelter, it is not a county government agency.

It relies on fundraising and donations.

Last year, the county donated $1,000, Sverchek said.

“We are grateful for any donations, whether it’s a cash donation or some trash bags or can wet food or dry,” said shelter Manager Dana Dunbar.

“Our shelter is cage-free so it’s an open concept where the cats have cat towers and many toys to play with,” she said. “It’s also easier for people to pick and choose their forever cat or kitten.”

Dunbar said the shelter has a little more than 200 cats and kittens right now.

“We currently have a waiting list, to assist getting cats and kittens into the shelter at this moment,” she said.

Ahner praised the shelter’s hard work.

“The cat shelter has many great workers and volunteers. Can you imagine how many cats would be roaming the streets if we wouldn’t have these individuals dedicated to the county’s furry felines?”