Plans have been announced at the Chillicothe Animal Shelter to establish a cage-free adoption center for cats considered to be most at risk of euthanasia.
There also will be a public meeting next week to explain the details of a cat sanctuary as well as fund-raising efforts to match a grant.
Doctors Morrill Foundation is an Animal Protection and Welfare Organization with an objective to revolutionize the status and well-being of shelter animals. It has awarded Livingston County Humane Society a $50,000 matching grant. The investment provides an opportunity to increase capacity to create an additional, separate environment for more shy and sensitive cats, increase adoptions through direct interaction with prospective families and, therefore, decrease the euthanasia rate.
It is described that Feline Sanctuaries allow cats to have increased play time and significantly higher confidence because they are frequently exposed to potential adopters. With the grant, the Feline Sanctuary will be a separate building on the same grounds as the current Forest O Triplett Shelter facility.
A Town Meeting about funding the Feline Sanctuary is Thursday, September 14th at 6:30 pm at the Cultural Center at 424 Locust Street in Chillicothe. Expected to attend the meeting are Jonathan Station, an attorney
representing Doctors Morrill Foundation; Livingston County Humane Society Board members, Leslie Patek, Tom Ashbrook, and Steve Holt.
The stipulation in the grant agreement dictates that the local share of the match must be completed by the end of this year. So far $11,866 dollars is available toward the match. Other stipulations are that the project is completed prior to the end of 2018, and they have naming rights for the building. Funds left over after the Feline Sanctuary is built may be used for the improvement of the rest of the Animal Shelter at Chillicothe.
Lesley Patek as the Animal Shelter Guardian, her staff, and board of directors of the Livingston County Humane Society wish to thank Jonathan Staton, Chillicothe native and Trust attorney representing Great Plains Trust & Asset Management who represents the Doctors Morrill Foundation.
To raise the local share to match the grant, contribution levels have been suggested ranging from $50.00 dollars to $5000.
These include Platinum with Pavilion name (main Room) $5000, Gold: A Bench with plaque $2500 or more, Silver: Cat Tree, with plaque $1000 to $2499, Bronze: Paw Print plaque $500 to $999, Friends of the Sanctuary $50 to $499.
