SEBASTIAN COUNTY (KFSM) -- The Sebastian County Humane Society is facing financial troubles and may have to close its doors.
Tonya Rogers, the Humane Society board secretary, said Monday (August 10) if the current trend in declining cash flow continues, the shelter will close within the next few months.
“We have been getting by every month really just with donations, and with donations being down, and none coming in, it has left us with basically nothing,” Rogers said.
Rogers said there is currently $3,000 in the Humane Society's bank account, and it costs them $60,000 every month to cover all their expenses.
“The problem that we are facing right now is that we have a rising pet population,” Rogers said. “We have over 400 animals currently at the shelter.”
She said if the Humane Society does close, they have to find a place for all of the animals to go and no animals would be put down to make more room.
"I do not know if at that point we reach out to other shelters in the community for assistance or support,” Rogers said.
Rogers said it is possible the animals could be taken to other parts of the country where adoption rates are high. The city brings stray animals to the Humane Society, and Rogers said if the shelter's doors close, there would be nowhere for the stray animals to go.
"The executive board is meeting on Thursday (August 13) again, to brainstorm additional fund raising ideas and also to look at what expenses can be cut,” Rogers said.
She said the board's goal is to do everything they can to keep the shelter from closing, but she is also encouraging the public to help.
“With our high pet population, if we could get just more people to come in and adopt before going out and buying an expensive, designer pet come in and look at what we in the shelter because you would be surprised,” Rogers said.
Rogers said monetary donations are always accepted, but so are food supplies, beds and other pet items.