Imagine a shelter for our abandoned dogs and cats that is clean, warm and inviting. Imagine a place where all the dogs and cats awaiting new homes are well fed, happy and socialized, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly.
Imagine an abundance of willing volunteers available to help out in the office and see that every cat is cuddled and every dog is walked each and every day.
Sound good? Well this is the vision that we are well on our way to achieving here for Mendocino County. Nestled up against Forsythe Creek in Redwood Valley, this "diamond-in-the-rough" of a shelter is a resource that someday, with Community Support, will be a shelter of which we can all be proud.
Community Support will transform the muddy dog pens that cannot be sanitized into a modern, radiant floor-heated building. Community Support will enable us to replace the sub-standard cat pens with an up-to-date cattery that is sanitary and well ventilated.
The Humane Society was recently beleaguered and badly mismanaged; it is now an organization making a turn-around and getting back on the right track. Community Support during the recent election process helped bring about this change. The seeds of change have been planted. This year we hope to nurture these seeds into fruition.
With a new nine-member board of enthusiastic and committed people, willing to work hard and anxious to bring about much needed improvements, the future of our homeless cats and dogs in Mendocino County looks a little brighter.
Our financial affairs and records were "a mess" when the new board took over, according to Cathy Ortiz, our new treasurer. She is rapidly sorting out our financial affairs, thanks to the beautiful new computer that was recently donated. "There are lots of positive things happening at the shelter. Dog and cat food, blankets, cat litter and firewood, along with cash donations are arriving daily. Volunteers are beginning to return, everything is beginning to feel right. This is just what we were hoping for!" Cathy added.
The dogs and cats, which had been "warehoused" and neglected, are benefiting from a new energetic adoption and volunteer program headed by our two dog trainers and fellow board members, Sallie Palmer and Cheryl Steppe. Another board member, Jack Klaisner, has been kept busy repairing and upgrading the dog pens along with various other improvements around the shelter. There is no shortage of projects and a volunteer handy person would be greatly appreciated.
February was spay and neuter month, and this year we were barely able to provide these services to our own animals. In the future, however, we hope to be able to offer low cost spay/neuter services to the public as well. By doing this and by providing educational programs, we hope to meet our goal of getting to the root of the problem of pet overpopulation in Mendocino County.
Our financial situation is currently precarious. We are operating on limited hours with one part-time staff person. Weekends have been staffed by the board members and volunteers. It is our hope that in the near future, with the newsletter and other fund raising efforts, we will be able to hire additional help. Our membership during the election process swelled from 100 to over 700. We hope those members will come forth to help us bring about much needed improvements at the shelter.
We are seeking grant money to fund new programs, help with our operating budget and eventually build a new facility. We know of several foundations that are supportive of animal protection and we are contacting them for their grant guidelines. Grant writing, like all the other tasks of rebuilding an organization and developing new programs, is a learning experience. A community volunteer with experience in grant writing would be a great help to our newly formed Grant Writing Committee.
While our shelter presently is underfunded and a bit rough around the edges, we have taken the first steps toward creating an improved facility. With high hopes, big hearts, but nearly empty pockets, we are asking for continued Community Support to bring about our vision for a new Humane Society shelter.
If you've ever known, accepted and returned the love of a dog or cat, then there's a place in your heart that knows that our abandoned animals deserve a shelter that will provide the best care and offer them the chance of finding a loving home.
Please help out, become a member, or send a financial contribution to the Humane Society at 9700 Uva Dr., Redwood Valley 95470. Our phone is 485-0123. Thank You!
Wish List: Dolly, gas weed wacker, lawnmower, scale, Igloos, animal crates and carriers, canned dog food, collars and leashes, carpet (14x26 and 13x15), linoleum (9x16 and 6x10). Helpers: Handyman, Dog Walkers, Cat Cuddlers.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1999
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