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Reprieve for the Shelter and the Animals
June 27, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lincoln County Animal Shelter – 541-265-6610
NEWPORT, Oregon – As many of you are aware, the Lincoln County Animal Shelter had been
scheduled to close to the public on June 30th due to the economic crisis
that has affected our county.
The Board of Commissioners, along with
Sheriff Dotson, although concerned about the health and welfare of our
county's animals, were forced to consider some unpleasant choices. With
the proposed plan to reduce the current staff by 85%, the shelter's
future looked bleak. When news of the cutbacks reached the community,
the public outcry was heard throughout the county.
County District Attorney Rob Bovett and County Counsel Kristen Yuille
worked with a group of dedicated community residents in order to create
a new non-profit 501(C) (3) group that will work to benefit the funding
of the shelter operations. Patty Burke, President; Bill Humes,
Vice-president, and Joyce Jensen Secretary along with board members Dr.
Charles Hurty, Erica Fruh, Emily DeHuff, Lee Smith and Linda Wright
formed "Friends of the Lincoln County Animal Shelter" (FOLCAS).
FOLCAS and the Central Coast Humane Society met weekly with one or more
of the Commissioners and Sheriff Dotson in an attempt to brainstorm on
possible alternative ideas for funding. We are happy to report that on
Tuesday, June 2nd, an agreeable plan was submitted.
The adopted plan will keep the shelter open until June 30th, 2010. Funds
from the Community and Economic Development Fund along with donations
from the community, monies from the Save the Shelter fund and the
shelter trust fund, future earmarked donations, projected licensing fees
and along with expected fee increases were enough to persuade the Board
of Commissions to keep the doors open for another fiscal year.
Although this is "GREAT NEWS!" we need to understand that this is only a
temporary fix. Donations of money and time are still required in order
to keep the shelter from closing in June of 2010. The shelter is in
desperate need of people who can work off-site on fund raising events.
If this is something you are able to lend a hand at, please contact the
Lincoln County Animal Shelter staff or Volunteer Services at (541)
265-6610.
Our community, our staff, our many shelter volunteers, FOLCAS, the
Central Coast Humane Society, Sheriff Dotson and the Board of
Commissioners worked tirelessly to come up with a viable plan to help
save the shelter. The Lincoln County Animal Shelter Staff & Volunteer
Services would like to say THANK YOU to each of you for your generosity
and support. We can all take pride in the knowledge that we live in a
community that supports its lost and homeless animals and realizes the
benefit of maintaining a consummate shelter environment.
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