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photo by Hannah Reel
Shoppers walk past the Natchez Humane Society Building Fund donation stickers that hang on the window at the entrance of The Natchez Market on John R. Junkin Drive Friday afternoon.
Humane fundraiser nets $60,000
Published Saturday, July 4, 2009
NATCHEZ — The end of June marked the end of a massive fundraising effort aimed at raising money for a new Natchez-Adams Humane Society animal shelter.
While the Desperate Dogs and Cats campaign fell short of its $350,000 goal, event organizers are still calling the push a success.
The month-long campaign netted approximately $60,000 in cash — and the money is still coming in.
Chairman of the building committee and event co-organizer Vidal Davis said approximately $30,000 in donations came in Friday, including a $26,000 cashiers check from an anonymous donor in Virginia.
“I have no idea who sent it,” Davis said. “But it’s amazing. It shows people out there know what we’re doing, and they support it. It’s great to know that people care.”
Current construction estimates place the cost of a new shelter at approximately $750,000.
With $315,000 in previous donations, and $60,000 in uncollected pledges, the group still needs approximately $285,000 to complete the project.
Ashton James, event co-coordinator, said he feels the first drive raised so much awareness that fundraising efforts in the works will be more successful.
“People are talking about this,” James said. “They know what’s going on out there and I think we’re going to get the donations.”
The current animal shelter on Liberty Road was converted from and old house and is currently rotting due to excessive exposure to water from cleaning up after the animals.
“It’s a serious situation,” James said of the conditions at the shelter. “It was a great start and we’re definitely not done. It’s not over until we have a new shelter.”
Current projections call for the new shelter to be built by June 2010, and secondary fundraising efforts to begin, tentatively, in September.
Comments
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A Bright Day on the Horizon!
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$750,000 just to house dogs and cats till they are put to sleep. That could be spent on better things, but people won't spay and neuter their pets.
Posted by itsmemame (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just sitting here wondering, doesn't native Mississippian John Grisham have a home in Virginia?
Posted by riverat (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is there any way that the Humane Society could get an advertising sponsor to regularly feature their animals? I always thought the adoption event they had at Stine's was great...can they do it again someplace else?
Posted by reb1843 (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm all for 'saving' dogs and cats. I wish I could afford to care for more, myself, but I already have a dozen of each. (I live in the country - no problem).
Point is, why not buy one or two of those temporary buildings like portable classrooms, construction trailers, etc. They can be permanently mounted, arranged to suit as far as exam and operating rooms, washbays, drugs, etc., and pen/feeding/exercise areas added as necessary to the outside.
I can't see spending 3/4 of a million dollars when there are more down-to-earth means to accomplish the same results.
Posted by nlhoman (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the biggest thing is that there would be a better atmosphere for people to come and see the animals and maybe adopt an animal. The way it is at the moment is not so inviting. They want to increase adoptions by providing a better enviroment for potential adopters also try and get people excited about visiting the shelter.
Posted by doc (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does the City have a leash law? If so it seems like they could give some money. It is hard these days to get extra money, even if it is for a good cause.
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