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Humane Society works at dream of new shelter

Michelle Balleck

The Moffat County Humane Society raised more than $800 at Saturday’s fund-raising yard sale. But that’s a long way from what’s needed for a new animal shelter.

“It seems like a pipe dream,” treasurer Sandy Feeney said. “The events that we’re doing just cover the costs of saving lives.”

Mary Blakeman said a new shelter would require two acres of land in a light industrial-zoned area. The cost would be about $350,000 for the facility, plus additional funds to staff the shelter.



“It’s such a need,” she said. “We just need a way to get there.”

The group holds fund-raisers, like the one Saturday, and tries to get the community’s support at larger events. The organization sells Humane Society T-shirts as well as tote bags sporting quilted pets.



Public relations chairman Patty Peters, who held the yard sale at her home, said the organization received an overwhelming number of donations, both items to sell and monetary ones.

One man bought 50 cents worth of merchandise and told Peters to keep the change from a $5 bill. Another woman gave the group $100.

“The community has been so generous,” Peters said.

At events, members sell cotton candy, and Blakeman said members have considered boarding dogs for families on vacation to raise funds.

“Right now we’re small,” she said. “But we’re here and we do what we can.”

So far, that hasn’t been enough.

“At times you feel like an ant looking up at Pike’s Peak thinking, ‘How am I ever going to get up there?'” Blakeman said.

But members keep trudging along, helping the animals they can now and brainstorming for ways to raise large amounts of money in the future. One key step is getting larger attendance at meetings, held the second Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. at the Golden Cavvy.

“We’ve got to get new members to do what we need to do,” Feeney said.

To join the Moffat County Humane Society, call 870-7500.

Michelle Perry may be reached at 824-7031 or by e-mail at mperry@craigdailypress.com


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