By Carey Sharp

The Mower County Humane Society

The ground has been broken, and the walls are being built.

It’s an exciting time for the MCHS as our new shelter is finally becoming a reality. It’s located behind the Charter Communications building, next to the airport, and work is progressing quickly. The new building, measuring 9,000 square feet, is the result of a huge fundraising effort and generous donations from the public. It will provide shelter volunteers with a more spacious and efficient environment to care for the homeless cats and dogs of Mower County.

A larger facility does not mean that the MCHS will take in more animals. We hope to keep our population at a manageable number. The MCHS usually cares for about 100 cats and at least 20 dogs, although the numbers do vary. As always we will remain committed to promoting spaying and neutering and responsible pet ownership. Volunteers are hoping to move into the new shelter before winter’s end.

The new shelter also means that the MCHS will be entering into a partnership with the city of Austin regarding the city animal shelter. The two separate buildings will now be next to each other, sharing a parking lot. In the past there has been a lot of confusion regarding the two, separate entities.

The city animal shelter, known as the city pound, is overseen by the Law Enforcement Center. Cats and dogs that are picked up running loose within city limits are placed there and held for ten days. If not owner claimed, they are claimed by the MCHS, receive vet care, are spayed or neutered, and placed up for adoption.

Having the two buildings next to each other offers many advantages. It will make it much easier for people to search for a lost pet, as they can check both buildings at the same time. MCHS volunteers will no longer have to transport animals in their vehicles from one location to the other.

Volunteers will also be better able to monitor the animals that are taken to the pound by law enforcement.

The added police presence should help with overall security. This should reduce the number of animals that are dumped illegally at the MCHS.

 

Picture perfect

The 14th annual Holiday Pet Photo Shoot will be held on Sun., Nov. 4.

It is sponsored by Lisa Dockstader’s Portrait Shoppe, Emily Mayotte’s Pawsh Styling and the MCHS. Dogs will be photographed from 1 to 4 p.m. and cats from 4 to 4:30 p.m. It will be held at Oak Park Mall at the former location of Kay’s Jewelers.

As always, the MCHS appreciates donations received in memory of Loren Hyland, Robert Hyland, Linda Ellis, Lowell Amundson, “Katie” Zimmerman, Edith Brown, Adeline Longworth, Mildred Carlson, Merlyn Sellers, Deloris Fett, Dick Trimble, Dana Legried, Gladys Allas, “Cooper” Weimer, Dorothy Herzog, “Twyla Rose” Winter, William and Cleo Smith, Tricia Ann Delaney, Allen Waletzke, Pat Hanson, Sylvester Allas, Joe Rysavy, and Jo Andrea Bongard.