The Sebastian County Humane Society operates completely on grants and donations. A $5,000 grant from Pedigree and Greater Good will allow the shelter to significantly revamp their facility through the help of nearly 50 volunteers.
“Basically we’re fixing some pens for them, there’s a bunch of chain link that needs to be redone, we’re fixing that for them, we’re getting everything prepped for some apoxy on the walls that will help better protect the animals,” Chris Coulter, Greater Good Foundation said.
“We’re gonna do some remodeling and some painting and fixing kennels and everything,” Tyree Williams, Animal Care Technician SCHS said.
Employees say it costs around $30,000 a month to keep the non-profit organization running.
“It’s very important just to help out the animals because there’s a lot of animals out there in the streets that are in need and being neglected,” Williams said, “so this is will be a good home until they get adopted.”
“They all work off of limited budgets, and people don’t realize how much money it takes to run a shelter,” Coulter said.
The majority of the pets in the shelter are strays. They all undergo behavioral training and medical care before they are ready to be adopted.
Over 200 cats rescued by animal cruelty investigators from a home in Fort Smith Friday (July 18) are being cared for at the SCHS Clinic. They’ll be ready for adoption after undergoing the proper medical treatments.
“The animals here, they don’t have a voice and so us coming in here and trying to make their lives better until they can’t get adopted, it’s all the better for them,” Williams said.
Right now there are an estimated 250 animals waiting to be adopted, according to employees at the humane society.
