Danita Schimmelpfenig now has a license in hand to operate an animal shelter.
Schimmelpfenig, animal control officer for Madison, was approved for the shelter on Jan. 25 and received the license last week.
A house has been purchased for use as the shelter, which she expects to open in late spring or early summer. The new shelter is seperate from the city shelter.
“At that time, it’s going to be Furever Friends Education and Adoption Center,” Schimmelpfenig said.
The idea for the shelter had been percolating in her mind for about a year. Then, she talked to the state inspector, lined up foster homes to use until the shelter can be opened, and met the other requirements for operating a place to keep unwanted or stray animals.
She anticipates that the new facility will be a no-kill shelter.
Schimmelpfenig also has made arrangements for Madison students to earn school reading credits through the education center. It will be for all ages, from kindergarten to adult, to help educate people about pet ownership, how to find the right pet for their home, and other information they may need to know or want to learn about their pets.
Materials for the center have been purchased through the school district’s book orders; they also have been donated through the Pet Connection in Mission, Ks.
More books are needed, as are fencing, indoor-outdoor paint and other items for the shelter.
“Those are things we have a wish list for right now,” she said.
Until the center opens, the adoptable dogs will be kept in licensed foster homes in the Madison area, and more foster homes are needed.
“Each one of them actually comes over and gets to meet the dogs that come in and actually pick the dog that they would like to take into their foster home, because it’s a commitment,” she said. “They’ve committed to foster that dog until it finds its forever home. ...
“They provide the love, the care; I provide all the medical, the vetting, the medical attention and the food.”
Schimmelpfenig now has 13 pets ready for adoption, with a white Pomeranian, Poof, now the dog who most needs a family of his own.
“He had a broken leg and his owners could not afford medical care, so the wonderful doctors at Emporia Veterinary Hospital set his leg, put a cast on it,” she said. “It’s due to come off in March. He’s just absolutely adorable.”
Adoption fees for the animals vary, depending upon the amount spent for veterinary care and other expenses.
Furever Friends also has a “Senior for Senior” program, with no adoption fee for a dog 8 years old or older who goes to an owner 60 years old or older.
Schimmelpfenig said she has received cooperation from the city of Madison in working with the upcoming no-kill shelter.
“Madison Animal Control Services is doing courtesy posts for Furever Friends dogs,” she said.
The animals can be seen at www.madisonks.petfinder.com; costs for each animal also are posted on the site. People who want more information about the new shelter may call Schimmelpfenig at (620) 437-7237 or e-mail her at thedogandme@madtel.net.
The shelter has not yet been qualified as a non-profit organization.
“We’re not a 501(c)(3) so we cannot give tax receipts at this time, but we do hope to be in the future. That’s one of our goals,” she said.
NoWayJose (anonymous) says...
What happened to the online version of Ranger's story in the Gazette last Saturday? Here's a link to the story the Chicago Tribune ran:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/20...
February 15, 2010 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )