AWL Optimistic In Animal Shelter Takeover
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
It's raining cats and dogs in Kosciusko County and the Animal Welfare League hopes to be the umbrella to stop the downpour.
The AWL took over the animal shelter Sunday.
The League will pay the county $1 a year to lease the animal shelter. The county, in return, will pay the AWL $30,000 a year for expenses. The county will also pay the salary of the animal control officer, Jerry Clase.
"We thought it was probably a good decision on the county's part. The county's budget for the shelter will go from $130,000 a year to $30,000," AWL President Linda Mullins said. "We're not government funded."
Mullins said most of the revenue will be generated by donations and volunteers. The only paid positions will be the salary of co-directors Tracey Yates and Heidi Bailey-Leininger. The AWL will also apply for any and all grants and will hold fundraisers regularly. Pet supplies will also be sold at the facilities.
"We should be able to keep expenses down because of all of our volunteers," Mullins said.
Previous budget for the animal shelter was between $112,000 to $129,000 a year. It was estimated by Human Resource Director Ron Robinson that the savings would be about $50,000 to $60,000 a year.
Equipment and truck expenses will be absorbed by the sheriff's department, but should not cause any financial hardships to the sheriff's budget.
The AWL will cover the animal control services for the entire county.
AWL is an offshoot from the Humane Society, Mullins said. It broke off from the Society about 10 years ago when there were internal problems. The AWL regrouped about 13 months ago.
"The group we have now reorganized and got things rolling again," Mullins said.
Mullins said that Robinson approached Dr. Richard Sasso about taking over the shelter. She said the AWL was excited about the offer.
The AWL is not just a fixed group of individuals, Mullins said.
"We do accept and welcome all volunteers," she said.
She said all people of the county could help by doing office work, walking the animals, cleaning or doing laundry.
"There's no end to what people can do here," she said.
One big change the AWL is making is the euthanization of animals. The AWL will no longer perform mass euthanizations just because there is no room for the animals. The only reasons for killing animals will be if they are terminally sick or are very aggressive and can not be socialized by anyone, Mullins said.
A cat was put to sleep Wednesday when it was discovered that it had feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. Mullins said that because so many volunteers were in the medical business, such problems would be quicker to pinpoint and take care of. The AWL will also check for heart disease in adult dogs when they arrive.
Since euthanization will become an exception and not a rule, Mullins said there will be several options for the AWL to handle the animal population when it gets too large.
"When we can no longer house what we have here," Mullins said, "they will be sent to foster care. We have lists of people who are willing to take foster care of the animals."
AWL is also planning to add more cages to the facilities. A recent donation will help with the purchase of the new cages.
Currently, the AWL is housing 60 cats and 50 dogs.
"This is a big building. It has a lot of space," Mullins said.
She said there was more room for animals and that caring for them would not be a problem.
There is no fee for dropping off an animal. To adopt an animal, there is a $70 charge for dogs and a $50 charge for cats. An adoption requires spaying and neutering the pet. The adopter must sign a form that they will get the operation for the pet done in a specific number of days. Non-compliance will result in the AWL taking back the animal.
If some people say the AWL is harsh about the spaying and neutering policy, Mullins said, "We want them to say that. That was what led to the problem. It wasn't enforced (previously)."
People will be able to get $25 back after they spay and neuter their dog and $20 back for a cat they adopt from the AWL.
Mullins said, "Incentives are important."
The time a person has to spay and neuter their pet will be determined based on the animal's age. A male cat has to be at least four months old to be neutered. The time allotted will be on the form a person receives.
For members interested in how the AWL has taken over the care of the county's homeless pets, the AWL will host an open house Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A local radio station from Fort Wayne will be on hand and door prizes will be given. Tours will be given all day and refreshments will be served.
Membership to the AWL is available for $10 a year.
"I know that there are people out there who don't expect us to succeed. It won't be from the lack of trying," Mullins said. [[In-content Ad]]
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It's raining cats and dogs in Kosciusko County and the Animal Welfare League hopes to be the umbrella to stop the downpour.
The AWL took over the animal shelter Sunday.
The League will pay the county $1 a year to lease the animal shelter. The county, in return, will pay the AWL $30,000 a year for expenses. The county will also pay the salary of the animal control officer, Jerry Clase.
"We thought it was probably a good decision on the county's part. The county's budget for the shelter will go from $130,000 a year to $30,000," AWL President Linda Mullins said. "We're not government funded."
Mullins said most of the revenue will be generated by donations and volunteers. The only paid positions will be the salary of co-directors Tracey Yates and Heidi Bailey-Leininger. The AWL will also apply for any and all grants and will hold fundraisers regularly. Pet supplies will also be sold at the facilities.
"We should be able to keep expenses down because of all of our volunteers," Mullins said.
Previous budget for the animal shelter was between $112,000 to $129,000 a year. It was estimated by Human Resource Director Ron Robinson that the savings would be about $50,000 to $60,000 a year.
Equipment and truck expenses will be absorbed by the sheriff's department, but should not cause any financial hardships to the sheriff's budget.
The AWL will cover the animal control services for the entire county.
AWL is an offshoot from the Humane Society, Mullins said. It broke off from the Society about 10 years ago when there were internal problems. The AWL regrouped about 13 months ago.
"The group we have now reorganized and got things rolling again," Mullins said.
Mullins said that Robinson approached Dr. Richard Sasso about taking over the shelter. She said the AWL was excited about the offer.
The AWL is not just a fixed group of individuals, Mullins said.
"We do accept and welcome all volunteers," she said.
She said all people of the county could help by doing office work, walking the animals, cleaning or doing laundry.
"There's no end to what people can do here," she said.
One big change the AWL is making is the euthanization of animals. The AWL will no longer perform mass euthanizations just because there is no room for the animals. The only reasons for killing animals will be if they are terminally sick or are very aggressive and can not be socialized by anyone, Mullins said.
A cat was put to sleep Wednesday when it was discovered that it had feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. Mullins said that because so many volunteers were in the medical business, such problems would be quicker to pinpoint and take care of. The AWL will also check for heart disease in adult dogs when they arrive.
Since euthanization will become an exception and not a rule, Mullins said there will be several options for the AWL to handle the animal population when it gets too large.
"When we can no longer house what we have here," Mullins said, "they will be sent to foster care. We have lists of people who are willing to take foster care of the animals."
AWL is also planning to add more cages to the facilities. A recent donation will help with the purchase of the new cages.
Currently, the AWL is housing 60 cats and 50 dogs.
"This is a big building. It has a lot of space," Mullins said.
She said there was more room for animals and that caring for them would not be a problem.
There is no fee for dropping off an animal. To adopt an animal, there is a $70 charge for dogs and a $50 charge for cats. An adoption requires spaying and neutering the pet. The adopter must sign a form that they will get the operation for the pet done in a specific number of days. Non-compliance will result in the AWL taking back the animal.
If some people say the AWL is harsh about the spaying and neutering policy, Mullins said, "We want them to say that. That was what led to the problem. It wasn't enforced (previously)."
People will be able to get $25 back after they spay and neuter their dog and $20 back for a cat they adopt from the AWL.
Mullins said, "Incentives are important."
The time a person has to spay and neuter their pet will be determined based on the animal's age. A male cat has to be at least four months old to be neutered. The time allotted will be on the form a person receives.
For members interested in how the AWL has taken over the care of the county's homeless pets, the AWL will host an open house Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A local radio station from Fort Wayne will be on hand and door prizes will be given. Tours will be given all day and refreshments will be served.
Membership to the AWL is available for $10 a year.
"I know that there are people out there who don't expect us to succeed. It won't be from the lack of trying," Mullins said. [[In-content Ad]]