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.