The Humane Society of Richmond County urges all residents to remember the animal shelter when making their gift selections this holiday season. Every purchase made or donation given saves an animal's life, said Candy Bacon, director.

The Humane Society has operated the only licensed animal shelter in Richmond County for the past eight years. All animals picked up by Richmond County or Rockingham Police Department Animal Control are housed at the Humane Society facility.

It costs approximate $24,000 a month to operate the animal shelter for Richmond County.  The county and the cities of Rockingham and Hamlet donate approximately one-half of the funds needed to operate the shelter.  The balance of funds needed come from shelter program revenues, fund-raisers, grants and public donations.

 

Gift Certificates

Holiday themed gift certificates are available for purchase in any dollar amount at the shelter. Gift certificates can be used for adoptions, spay or neuter certificates or purchases from the gift shop.  An abundance of collars, leashes, toys and animal treats as well as holiday ornaments and human gift items are available.

Giving a gift certificate for a spay or neuter surgery is truly a gift of life, said Bacon. Euthanasia should not be the ultimate spay/neuter program when alternatives are available to everyone living in Richmond County.  The last thing that any shelter employee wants to do is to have to put an animal to sleep.

The spay/neuter programs operated by HSRC include transportation to and from the clinic, surgery, pain medication and a one-year rabies vaccines. Program voucher costs range from $20 up to $77 for a large male or female dog.

Each spay or neuter surgery performed prevents the birth of 74 kittens or 30 puppies in just one year. In the past two years, more than 2,000 animals have been spayed or neutered through the Humane Society at the Spay and Neuter Veterinary Clinic of the Sandhills in Vass. 

The surgeries have prevented the births of tens of thousands of unwanted animals. The average unit cost of an unwanted animal housed at the shelter is $78. The average cost of a surgery performed at the clinic is $48.

The surgeries performed at the contract clinic have also saved Richmond County residents over $155,000 in surgical costs that past two years. In addition to the savings, 1,100 public animals received a one year rabies vaccine.

Humane Education Adopt-a-Classroom

For $25, individuals and businesses can adopt a private or public K - 5th grade classroom and provide it with a year round humane education resource.  KIND News (Kids in Nature's Defense) is a Humane Society of the United States age specific monthly publication which teaches children respect for animals and their environment.

A certificate of sponsorship will be sent to adopted classrooms.  Currently 177 classrooms receive KIND News but subscriptions will run out the end of this month.  The Rockingham Rotary Club donated funds through a grant for 40 classrooms and another 32 classrooms have been sponsored through a private donation.  Approximately $2,300 is need to complete the education project for school year 2010.

 

Memory, Honor and Love Gift Donations

Gift cards are available at the shelter to honor or remember love ones this holiday season. Donations may be made in any amount to honor, memorialize or send special holiday greetings to family and friends.  Postage is provided for gifts of $5 or more. 

The Humane Society accepts VISA, MasterCard and Discover Card at the shelter or by phone.  Phone orders are subject to a $3 off-line charge.

 

In Kind Gifts

The animal shelter has a continuous need for clean newspaper, dog and cat canned or dry food, cat litter, bleach, laundry or dishwasher detergent and 55 gallon heavy duty trash can bags.   New or gently used retail type items are also needed to replenish the gift shop.   Gift cards from local grocery or retail stores are welcomed to help purchase shelter supplies.

The Humane Society of Richmond County animal shelter is located at 529 US Highway 74 Business West, approximately two miles west of downtown Rockingham.  The shelter is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday Noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.  The shelter is closed to the public on Wednesdays.  For information, call 895-0335 during the hours listed.