Shelter to expand to accommodate pets

By ASHLEY BRUGNONE

Enterprise Intern

Though many people are affected by the country's current recession, they are not the only creatures who are suffering. Local animal shelters and the inhabitants within their walls are also becoming victims in this a-"paw"-ling economic status.

The Ottawa County Humane Society in Port Clinton is home to 11 puppies, 13 dogs, and 180 cats. A number of staff and volunteers do all they can to ensure the best quality of life they can provide.

Though the Humane Society has always been filled with animals in need of shelter and care, the number of residents seems to have risen in the past year due to the economy.

"Because of foreclosures and people being unable to afford food for their animals, we've been getting a lot more drop-offs," said Megan Feicht, shelter manager and vice president of the OCHS. "Now we are refusing to accept cats and have even begun to refuse dogs as well."

With the Society's "no-kill" policy and only two-to-six adoptions per week, the staff is left with a multitude of mouths to feed. The group runs solely on donations, meaning food is generally purchased through the group's fund or is contributed by others.

The failing economy has left most to take care of their own problems, which leave the shelter to find alternative means to nourish the famished felines and canines, while also managing their budget.

"The dog food is okay, but the cats go through two 20-pound bags a day," said Feicht. "Since the price of food has gone up because of the economy too, we have to buy food in bulk."

Though the Ottawa County Humane Society has difficulties keeping up at times, Feicht said many others shelters in the area are in the same monetary dog house. And although the Society's mission is to save animals, she admitted that sometimes they have to refuse care to show they care.

"It's so hard to turn animals away," she said. "With so many in such confined spaces, sometimes, to show that we care about them and the other animals here, we have to turn them away."

But through the efforts of the staff and a donation fund, the shelter is in the works of improving its space into a bigger and more complex facility.

Plans have begun to construct a new building over several acres of the shelter's existing location, which will include a reception area, 20 dog kennels and four cat rooms.

The fund has already collected about $100,000 of the $400,000 project, which is expected to be finished sometime in the next year.

In the mean time, the Society is hosting fundraisers each weekend in the form of car washes, garage sales and other services to keep itself running. Although they are going through hard times, Feicht said the fight is worth it.

"We don't complain," she said. "If we're not here, no one will help them out. I just hope it gets better."