The sun was shining brightly for a small pack of very happy dogs and an even happier group of people who love those dogs and have never wanted more than they do today for the homeless animals of Michigan’s Great Southwest to have a clean, fresh new home to stay at while they are awaiting appointment to a forever home with a family willing to adopt them. It’s a day that actually started some nine years ago when a dream to build a new shelter for the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.
When the dream was first launched, the old shelter, built back in 1964 and added on to in 1989, was already failing the people who work there and the animals forced to survive the dismal conditions that have prevailed for far too long. The dream took a huge step forward four years ago when the board of directors pulled the trigger and purchased a five acre site along M-139 in Royaltown Township with plans to “some day” build that dream shelter.
Thanks to tons of fundraising activities, some very generous people, and an undying determination to convert that dream into reality, earth movers were already chugging in the background as ceremonial shovels were placed into the ground and dirt was happily sent skyward in the significant move to actually begin the construction to make that dream come true late this year or early next.
Theh Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan hosted its long await and much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon for a new 12,000 square foot animal shelter for cats and dogs located at 5400 M-139 in St. Joseph.
The new facility will be a vast improvement over the current shelter. The Humane Society has outgrown its 1950’s era facility located at 641 S. Crystal Avenue in Benton Township and purchased the five-acre site in Royalton Township for the new shelter. It is expanding its mission of providing food, shelter, medical care, and adoption services to the ever-growing population of homeless cats and dogs in Southwestern Michigan.
The main focus of the new shelter will be on providing comfortable and adequate space for the animals, with separate quarters and meet and greet areas for dogs and cats. There will be a designated animal intake entrance and room, veterinarian exam room, medical and isolation areas, offices, restrooms, and a multipurpose room for volunteer training and special events.
Don Blackmond, President of the organization’s board of directors told the crowd assembled today, “We decided that we could not wait any longer to start construction of the new shelter.” He cautioned, however, “We are getting closer to our $2 million fundraising goal, but still need help in reaching the final amount. With gap financing in place, we are able to start construction today and hopefully be open in early 2018.” Also addressing the crowd and emotionally charged was Executive Director Jill Svoboda and they were welcomed to Royalton Township by Township Supervisor Bob Basselman.
The Humane Society actually receives no financial support from taxes, dog license revenue, government agencies, or national humane organizations. It relies solely on fundraising efforts, donations, memorials, fees, grants, and planned giving gifts to keep its facility operational. This requires ongoing and continuous fundraising efforts for daily operations.
The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan, currently located at 641 S. Crystal Avenue in Benton Harbor is a unique shelter in many ways. It does not euthanize animals and became a no kill facility in 2008. Unlike most shelters, it provides each animal with a comfortable environment and daily exercise. It starts each animal on its way to a healthy “new life” by providing medical exams, standard vaccinations, and routine blood tests.
The dedicated and compassionate staff and volunteers pride themselves in finding “forever homes” for all of the adoptable pets. When selecting “forever homes,” the staff is diligent in searching for the best suitable home for each animal through the adoption application process. Many members of that same staff played active roles today in the groundbreaking ceremonies, manning shovels and tossing dirt into the air, many with their own adopted pets from the shelter at their side.
Contractors from Pearson Construction Company of Benton Harbor are already on site prepping the land for the new shelter underway.
You are welcome to visit their website by clicking the link below to keep the capital campaign alive and growing to minimize the debt load of the gap financing from Honor Credit Union as the construction gets underway.
Here’s the link to do just that: http://www.humanesocietyswm.org
Shown in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com from today’s groundbreaking are Executive Director Jill Svoboda and President Don Blackmond at the center, bracketed on each side by three staff members and their forever pets.
