Donor contributions still hinge on county’s efforts

to keep facility open



By Barbara B. Covell

For the News-Times



Seven citizens met Monday with District Attorney Rob Bovett, and emerged as part of an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization called Friends of the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.

Friends President Patty Burke said their mission is “to promote the welfare and adoption of abused, neglected, abandoned, and homeless animals that are lodged in the Lincoln County Animal Shelter; and to educate the public about animal welfare issues.” She said the board would establish specific goals and objectives under the overall mission.

Bovett volunteered to facilitate and handle the paperwork for the nonprofit process, and the newly formed organization is part of a groundswell of efforts to keep the shelter open.

“The Friends of the Shelter organization was formed as a result of the many concerned citizens eager to become involved, financially or otherwise, in keeping our Lincoln County shelter open for service,” said Bill Humes, vice president and spokesperson for the new organization.

The organization plans to set up a website, and will provide additional information in the coming weeks as events unfold.

Community members can learn more about them at their booth during this weekend’s annual Rogue Ale Boomer Bash, where they will distribute pledge cards for public donations. Humes emphasized that the pledge card indicates donor contributions hinge on continued shelter operations by the county.

“In other words, pledges will not take effect unless the county agrees to continue running the shelter,” he noted.



Budget woes

The Central Coast Humane Society (CCHS) Board of Directors hosted a May 8 public meeting at the Lincoln County Courthouse, where CCHS Vice President Paulette Sloan outlined the realities of assuming fiscal responsibility for the animal shelter.

The CCHS has taken on - wholly or partially - the cost of the spay/neuter programs, feral cat program, adoption outreach, foster care program for 33 years. Costs for the full- and part-time staff equals the $21,000 per month cut from the shelter budget. Sloan said covering that monthly shortfall “would effectively put us out of business in three to four months” if CCHS took over shelter operations.

“We felt that the County wanted us to come to the rescue, but we just can’t do this,” Sloan said in response to questions about the CCHS board’s meeting with Sheriff Dennis Dotson and Commissioner Don Lindly. “The public needs to know the Central Coast Humane Society will go under if we are burdened with the entire shelter responsibility. The county needs to accept their role in this matter, and be a partner in the solutions, not just pull the plug on this vital service.”



Community response

Shelter Director Dee Kaminski said the commissioners are awaiting a response from shelter supporters.

“They are considering the short- and the long-term picture for funding,” she noted. “If we are able to demonstrate sustainability from public support, licensing, and other forms of revenue, it gives us stronger ground.”

Questions ensued about public donations, fundraising, and financial contributions, in particular how people can contribute to the shelter and know their money won’t end up in an operations budget or the county’s general fund.

Kaminski told them the shelter has its own trust fund set up by Sheriff Dotson several years ago. The money in that fund is dedicated to the animal shelter, and the county cannot raid it. Anyone who wants to donate to the shelter should indicate “Save the Shelter Fund” on a check or money order.

“The need for immediate funding is of the utmost importance,” Kaminski said. “Protecting your dogs by licensing them now will ensure you get a phone call if your pet ends up in the shelter, and will also provide the much-needed revenue to continue to keep the shelter open.”

Shelter volunteers - among them Grove Veterinary Clinic veterinarian Charles Hurty - warned about the pitfalls to the county should the shelter close to the public on July 1 in the wake of anticipated budget cuts. Even a proposal for two-day public adoptions was viewed as a drastic drop in the level of services offered 20 years ago.

The shelter takes in more than 1,200 animals a year, and the staff makes every effort to adopt out every animal, or transfer them to a partner facility for second chance adoptions. Because of the training, commitment, experience and dedication of the staff and volunteers, there are healthy, loving pets literally saved from a cruel and senseless fate, and are thriving in the community.

“This is a chance for our finest hour,” Joe Wellons, a shelter volunteer, told the audience. “I refuse to accept that the Shelter will close on July 1.”

He is far from alone in that conviction. Fundraisers for the animal shelter are popping up in all north and south county communities.

“It is going to be important for the community to be active with us, if this is going to work,” Humes said. He can be contacted at Humes@peak.org.



Contact Barbara B. Covell @ bbcovell@mac.com

Share on Facebook