Time is running out for the Humane Society of Richmond County’s local animal shelter.
In a meeting on Thursday, the Humane Society board voted unanimously to cease shelter operations as of Oct. 31, 2012, according to Director Valerie Davis.
Davis said the decision is due to a lack of funding.
“A couple of months back, I began presenting to the board,” she said. “I kept telling them that it’s really bad. We’ve been running about a $35,000 deficit for over a year. We need to start making some decisions.”
According to Davis, shelter maintenance requires approximately $26,000 a month, and expenses have been piling up.
The Humane Society of Richmond County formed in 1981 as a small cat shelter, she said. In 1999, the officers of the Humane Society approached the county government and proposed the county aid them in operating a shelter. In 2002, doors opened to the new animal shelter located at 529 U.S. Highway 74 West Business, in Rockingham.
“For the last ten years, it has hung in there,” Davis said on Friday. “But there have always been budget constraints and tough times … In our contract, if we can’t function and operate the shelter on the funds we get, it reverts back to the county.
“Last night I asked the board, as a group, to please make a decision tonight. I asked them if they were going to pull out, because, as the director, not only am I going to be unemployed, but I have 11 other employees. I need to start making provisions,” said Davis.
Humane Society Board Chair Evonne Swanson confirmed on Friday that a vote had been taken.
“We have voted as a board that we will not operate in that shelter and continue the contract with the county,” Swanson said. “We won’t be there unless the county assists us in some way … We cannot continue as we have been. There has to be a change.”
Swanson said the shelter can still continue just as it is, but it becomes the county’s responsibility.
Although Davis and Swanson both said Friday that the Humane Society’s plans to withdraw from the shelter had been finalized, a letter from Humane Society Attorney Kelly G. Williams of Deane, Williams & Deane to county officials hints at other options.
The letter to county officials reads, “It has become painfully obvious to the Humane Society of Richmond County, Inc. that it can no longer operate its animal shelter under the current income/expense projections for 2012 through 2013.”
However, toward the end of the letter, Williams wrote, “Time is of the essence for the Humane Society to restructure its income base. If the Society has not received firm commitments from the local governments by October 31, 2012, it will be forced to close its shelter and dissolve its corporation.”
According to the letter, the shelter could stay open with monetary contributions from local municipalities each month. Proposed allocations include $300 from Dobbins Heights, $500 from the Town of Ellerbe, $800 from the City of Hamlet, $250 from the Town of Hoffman, $100 from the Town of Norman, $1,000 from the City of Rockingham and $22,000 from Richmond County. Those figures are based on the number of animals that the Humane Society received from the city limits of each city or town and within Richmond County, the letter said. Municipalities could opt to be billed monthly per animal, each of which would cost $76.50, according the letter. It goes on to list the average number of animals received from each jurisdiction per year, for example 150 from Rockingham.
The letter also reads: “After careful review of past income/expense reports and the projected income/expense report for 2012-2013, the Humane Society estimates a deficit of $53,000.00. Currently, the Humane Society has a deficit of $44,000.00 from Fiscal Year 2011-2012.”
Richmond County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette said Friday that if the county has to take over the shelter, it would do so.
“Our staff has been monitoring this over the last few weeks and has offered ideas and suggestions to the Humane Society,” said Robinette. “I understand they have sent a letter, which I have not yet seen. If the county takes over the shelter, I promise we’ll run it as efficiently and effectively as we can.”
Robinette also said, “The board will continue to support the Humane Society.”
County Commissioner Thad Ussery said, “I really hate to hear this, but we were trying to help them through their budget crunch. But if they won’t take advice, I don’t know what else they can do. If they give it up, we will have to take it over and run it more efficiently. There are some things that could be changed.”
“There are so many people in the community who have supported us for so long, that have a right to know what’s going on,” Davis said. “We want the community to know that the Humane Society isn’t going to cease to exist. We’re still an organization — we’re just not going to be operating the animal shelter.”
Due to its Oct. 31 closing date, Davis said the animal shelter is working to find a home for all 250 of its animals.
“We’re taking it week by week now,” she said. “We’re going to encourage folks to come and pull — to rescue. We probably will waive adoption fees. We’ve got extra dog houses and transport kennels that were donated to us, and I’m going to donate those with the dogs.”
Davis said the shelter will also adopt new shortened hours, and will be closed to the public on Sunday through Tuesday. It will remain open on Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com. Staff Writer Mallory Brown can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 16, or by email at mallorybrown@heartlandpublications.com.
We knew that Richmond County had a great need for the shelter. We knew the obscene way animal control had been operating under the county. Animals were being shot at the so called shelter. One of the animal control officers was known to be involved in dog fighting and was spending a fair amount of the time he was "on the clock" doing other things. He was followed and we had confirmed his activities.
Fortunately we had Guardian Angels on our side, The "Dieffenbachs". They invested a lot of time, money and influence to help us get the shelter off the ground and opened. Candy Bacon also put her heart and soul into this project. When the shelter opened my wife was there and is proud to have the clipping with their pictures.
We attended meetings, fundraisers and she even worked towards being the Richmond County Animal Cruelty Prevention Officer. When it snowed we rode around reminding people to provide shelter and water to animals chained outside. We received calls reporting animal abuse all over the county. One call was to report a man running down a litter of puppies with his lawn mower. There were others equally as bad. It took it's toll on Jean and she decided she could not handle the job.
I remember one meeting at the shelter where a female pit bull was walking in the room with us. She had been found in a car trunk at a traffic stop. The poor dog was torn up from dog fighting and rightfully should have been put down. That wasn't possible because she was evidence and we had to keep her until after the trial at which time she was killed. Over the years many animals have been brought to the shelter in the same shape.
I have watched the agony the staff has gone through when they had to euthanize animals for various reasons. Most were wild cats that had been caught and could not be tamed or adopted. These cats and many dogs came to the shelter as a direct result of Richmond County residents not having their animals spayed or neutered.
I have witnessed the shelter filled to capacity and proudly watched our Humane Society reach out to other states to find homes for animals. They have taken van loads of animals to places like Baltimore, MD to save their lives. They have taken animals to Troy to have them spayed and neutered for local owners who could not afford to have their animals "fixed" here.
My wife and I have gone to schools to talk with students to help them learn about the proper ways to be responsible pet owners and the dangers associated with stray animals. We have collected food from students to feed the shelter animals. Local stores once gave us damaged bags of pet food to help. Volunteers come to the shelter to take the dogs out to be exercised.
When vandals stole the air conditioners from the shelter in the heat of summer people brought fans to help cool the animals until a local company donated new units. Local vets have volunteered countless hours to help vaccinate and treat our animals.
Now I must ask, "Can the county do the job of running this shelter properly and does it have the manpower to do it?" It is a simple question and it has a simple answer...NO it cannot. It takes an army of volunteers and dedicated supporters to keep a quality shelter, such as ours, running in a humane way.
The staff at our shelter are second to none and are dedicated to seeing that all animals are treated humanely and that they are not adopted out to people looking for training of pit bull fights. Yes folks, people use regular dogs to teach these fighting dogs to kill. I have seen the results with my own eyes.
Are there ways to run the shelter more efficiently? I'm sure there are but at what cost? If we kill more animals we will save lots of money. Is that what the county wants us to do? I guarantee that is what they will do if they take the shelter over. Will there be more packs of dogs roaming the city killing our pets in our own yards? Yes there will be.
I see so much wasted money being spent in this county that should be spent on more worthwhile projects.
Do we really need a canoe park in Hitchcock Creek? I grew up near that creek and I can tell you that it floods a lot. The first big flood will wash away the new bridge we paid for so folks could walk across the creek.There are trees falling across the creek all the time as the banks erode. When someone in a canoe tries to move a tree or maneuver around it will a moccasin be laying on it? Do you have any idea how many poisonous snakes live along the creek and swamps between Steele Street and Midway? I do because as a teen my friends and I were down there all the time hunting them.
How many years could the animal shelter run on the money already wasted on that project?
How much good could that money have done if it were used to fund animal treatments including treatment of diseases passed on to our pets from animals who have never received any vaccinations?
We have great veterinary hospitals right here in Rockingham but they cannot work for free nor can they handle all the needs of this county. They are maxed out treating pets owned by responsible owners. Why not fund more animal treatment options so we can have more services even if it is once a month?
Yes I have lots of questions as I try to understand why our animal shelter has to suffer. I live in the city limits and my taxes are very high. I would like to think that 1% of that money could be spent for the animals.
I'm camped in Gettysburg, PA. My little dog, "Dixie" is laying next to me. She would be dead had the Richmond County Humane Society not taken her in. She was sick and they took care of her until we adopted her and Dr. Souder "Gandy Animal Hospital" saved her life. We've had her 8 years now and there is no way to express the joy she has brought to so many. I know she would not have lived under the previous county run animal control facility. How many of you own a rescued animal? How many have found homes for your animals through the Richmond County humane Society? Aren't they worth our support? Can't we work together to keep this shelter going being run by people who love animals? It isn't just a job to them.
Jerry Newberry
For the endearing and devoted commitment and services provided by the employees of the current humane society organization, God Bless You!!! Your role has to be one of the most difficult, honest and heartfelt professions in the world and for that I thank you.
For the love of a dog:)