Northumberland Humane Society Shares Expansion Plans
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
As the Northumberland Humane Society has evolved over the past 60 years, it has become clear – their Hamilton Township building is inadequate to the range of services they provide today.
Animal Care Director Wendy Riley and Capital Campaign Director Kim Good appeared before Cobourg council Wednesday to share their plans for a capital campaign to be launched this fall to bring their facilities up to that standard.
In addition to the adoptions everyone knows about, NHS also receives animals that arrive frightened, injured, neglected. As well, they support the owners and families in crisis – those having a hard time affording food or veterinary care, or experiencing hardship or illness
“That is why we often say animal welfare workers are front-line caregivers,” Good said.
Riley shared some statistics from last year, when more than 1,200 animals were supported. They helped 619 find homes and reunited 214 with their families. They assisted 300 through their pet bood bank and 80 through their compassionate-care respite program.
Their shelter was built as a municipal pound almost 30 years ago (they receive $52,000 a year from Cobourg for pound services, Municipal Clerk Brent Larmer said) and was not designed for this range of services.
Riley shared the story of Angel, who had been abandoned, was blind and scared. While she bore signs of serious neglect such as skin infections and wounds, she was house-trained.
“Someone had loved her at some point,” Riley said.
Through Facebook, they learned her name may have been Angel. They called her name, and she looked up and wagged her tail. She has a new home now.
Every animal that comes in has its own story, she said.
Good described plans for a purpose-built facility designed around animal care, accessibility and community service.
They get no on-going municipal funding from any level, she noted. Their funds come from donors, volunteers, businesses, foundations and community partners in addition to their thrift store.
It’s a $4-million campaign, Riley explained, to provide enough space to provide these services in an accessible, comfortable and stress-free way – not just a shelter, but a community care centre both for animals and for vulnerable residents who may need to access services in order to keep them
“It’s not just about space, it’s about building capacity to care,” she stated.
Phase 1 calls for $2.2-million to build the new 6,200-sq.-ft. building on the north side of their four-acre site.
Phase 2 calls for $1-million to transform their existing building.
Phase 3 calls for $1-million for programming – low-cost veterinary services for spaying and neutering, preventative are, expanded access to veterinary support.
The campaign will be launched in September.
