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By
JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer
jschramm@minotdailynews.com
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Jill Schramm/MDN
Gretchen keeps watch for visitors in the
newly remodeled lobby of the Souris
Valley Humane Society shelter. The room
located off the lobby also has been
remodeled and is used by adopting
families to interact with the animals. |
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Wishes are coming true
at the Souris Valley Humane Society.
The vision a year ago for a shelter makeover, a balanced
budget and positive, community support are becoming
reality as the humane society prepares for one of its
biggest fund-raising events ever.
“It’s kind of like a celebration for us,” society board
president Judy Olson said of the gala set for April 28
at the Grand International Inn.
“Times are better now,” she said. “We have come a long
way. Morale is tremendous. Most of it is hats off to
Kathy.”
Kathy Sconyers, executive director since June 2006, has
been a leader in transforming the humane society.
The change is visible in the animal shelter.
Sconyers sacrificed an office to create a third adoption
room. Redecorating efforts turned each of the rooms from
stark into homey. The lobby also has been repainted and
redecorated.
The humane society plans to finish Kitty City, its cat
socialization room, next month. The society remodeled a
room, complete with catwalks across the walls, and just
needs to add finishing touches before gradually
introducing the cats. The project was completed entirely
with volunteer labor and donations of $750.
“We went out on the Web site and said, ‘We would like to
do this. Can you help?’ and people just started coming
in and leaving us checks,” Sconyers said.
The socialization room will replace kennels as the
shelter home for the cats. Kennels will be used only in
cases where cats can’t be in the room, either due a
socialization issue or to protect against spread of
illness.
The society hasn’t forgotten about the dogs. The next
wish to be fulfilled is conversion of a garage into a
dog agility exercise room, possibly with a door to an
outside dog run.
Sconyers said the society has applied for a grant to get
the $35,000 project started and has lined up some of the
volunteer labor if the money from that grant, or
possibly some other grant, comes through.
The humane society has received smaller, local grants
for other building improvements, including work on two
furnaces and an air exchange system.
The society plans cosmetic changes for the dog kennel
area to give it a brighter, more up-to-date look,
Sconyers said. Nearly all the kennels have been equipped
with kuranda beds, purchased with earmarked donations. A
donated kennel cover for an outdoor kennel also has made
weather less of a factor in allowing dogs outside.
The building improvements will separate the shelter into
areas for cats and areas for dogs. That separation,
combined with the more comfortable environment, will
reduce stress on the animals, Sconyers said.
The society will be analyzing results of the changes to
determine how they affect animal socialization and
behavior, which can improve adoption rates.
Finding homes faster would help with the society’s
waiting list of about 300 animals. Just getting an
animal into the shelter can be a three- to four-month
process, Sconyers said. The humane society doesn’t take
animals on short notice, nor does it get involved in
animal welfare issues except to assist law enforcement
agencies that handle those issues, she said.
Information on what the society can or can’t do, as well
as ways that people can donate or get involved, are
detailed on the society’s newly revamped Web site at (www.svhspets.com).
There’s also a section to list lost or found pets.
The Web site makes it easier for people to donate or buy
online as well as start the adoption application
process. Sconyers said the intent is to send people home
with a pet within 48 hours of starting the adoption
process, and the shelter usually achieves that goal.
Souris Valley has trimmed its spending from about
$25,000 a month to less than $16,000 a month to
eliminate the need to dip into savings to care for
animals.
“In 2006, we went in the black, which is phenomenal,”
Sconyers said. “So we are really proud of that.”
Even with the reduced budget, the shelter has been able
to restore hours. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays.
The shelter had been closed Wednesday as a cost-cutting
measure.
The society has been able to provide services on a
reduced budget because of donors and volunteers who have
taken certain costs upon themselves. Olson said the
change has helped financially, but it’s created a need
for more volunteers.
“We absolutely need volunteers. They are the crux of our
organization,” she said.
The humane society also needs community donations above
and beyond support for events such as the gala. The
society’s pet crematorium is a major source of income,
but it needs work that will cost nearly $10,000.
“We don’t use our fund-raising money for repairs like
that,” Olson said. “We use the fund-raising money
strictly for the care of the animals.”
Gala
event to raise money for shelter
The Souris Valley Humane Society’s “An Evening to Paws”
charity auction and dinner to benefit homeless pets will
be held April 28 at 6 p.m. in the Grand International
Inn in Minot.
The event will feature both live and silent auctions of
donated items from local supporters and from businesses
outside of North Dakota that support animal rescue
efforts on a national basis.
Auction items include a “Furcedes” dog bed in the shape
of a car, a number of prints and other artwork, a trip
to Las Vegas, a day at the spa and a variety of themed
gift baskets. A steak and lobster gift basket includes a
certificate for four live lobsters to be flown in from
Maine and four hand-cut ribeye steaks from a Berthold
locker plant.
There also will be a raffle for donated prizes.
The humane society continues to accept donations for the
auctions. Anyone with baskets in good condition, auction
items or who wants to help with the event can contact
the humane society at 839-6116.
Tickets are $25 and can be obtained by calling 839-6770.
Reservations should be made by Thursday, April 12.
Businesses or individuals also can reserve tables for
VIP treatment.
In addition to the dinner and auction, there will be DJ
music and an update on the shelter and adoption program. |
