aly
07-23-2001, 10:57 PM
I got this email today. It breaks my heart. I'm sure all of you Dallas people have probably heard about it :(
Our local humane society, DFW Humane Society in Irving, Texas is facing
possible closure due to lack of donations, decreased adoptions and increased
capacity of animal population.
It's happened before - the financial crisis - in the 34 years of the
shelter's history. Thankfully, it hasn't been a close call but a few times.
I served on the Board of the shelter from 1984 - 1990. Back then it cost
$107,000 to run the shelter on bare bones, ignoring needed repairs due to
lack of money (like the rotting floor in the entry way), and operating with
only 3 full-time employees and most of the food being donated. It now costs
$10,000 - $15,000 per month to operate the shelter ($120,000 - $180,000
annually). The shelter generally receives $4,000 - $5,000 a month in
donations and obtains the remaining needed funds through fundraisers.
This summer, the shelter has seen a drop in adoptions, an increase in pet
population at the shelter, and a drop in donations to a mere $1,000 - $1,500
per month. If August is a repeat of July, the shelter will likely be forced
to close. A roofer is donating labor and materials for $1,800 of roofing
repairs to stop roofing leaks. The shelter owns it's own 40-year old
building which was paid off around 1989 after completing payments on a
no-interest mortgage loan set-up by the shelter's founder and prior owner of
the building. Funds are needed to meet monthly expenses such as utility
bills, med costs, etc.
An article about this situation ran today (Sun, July 22) in the Dallas
Morning News, Metropolitan Section and Irving city section. The writer (if
you'd like to check the legitimacy of this information) is Barrie Page Hill
(972-594-7198 ext 2001 or e-mail [email protected]). The Dallas area NBC
affiliate, Channel 5, will be airing the story on the 10 p.m. news tonight.
For more info on the DFW (stands for Dallas/Ft. Worth) Humane Society, you
can visit their web site at www.dfwhumane.com (http://www.dfwhumane.com) or contact them at
972-253-3333. The shelter address for mailing donations is: 1611 W. Irving
Boulevard, Irving, TX 75061.
Please pass this notice to rescue groups that might be able to help increase
adoptions. And please cross-post to all the animal lovers you know. I'm
embarrassed to say that in this home town of mine, there are 187,000
residents and not even enough donations to keep the humane society in good
financial standing. We also have a city-funded animal control shelter. But
the Humane Society is a separate organization with Section 501(C) non-profit
status. Your donations are tax deductible.
Thanks for spreading the word!
Our local humane society, DFW Humane Society in Irving, Texas is facing
possible closure due to lack of donations, decreased adoptions and increased
capacity of animal population.
It's happened before - the financial crisis - in the 34 years of the
shelter's history. Thankfully, it hasn't been a close call but a few times.
I served on the Board of the shelter from 1984 - 1990. Back then it cost
$107,000 to run the shelter on bare bones, ignoring needed repairs due to
lack of money (like the rotting floor in the entry way), and operating with
only 3 full-time employees and most of the food being donated. It now costs
$10,000 - $15,000 per month to operate the shelter ($120,000 - $180,000
annually). The shelter generally receives $4,000 - $5,000 a month in
donations and obtains the remaining needed funds through fundraisers.
This summer, the shelter has seen a drop in adoptions, an increase in pet
population at the shelter, and a drop in donations to a mere $1,000 - $1,500
per month. If August is a repeat of July, the shelter will likely be forced
to close. A roofer is donating labor and materials for $1,800 of roofing
repairs to stop roofing leaks. The shelter owns it's own 40-year old
building which was paid off around 1989 after completing payments on a
no-interest mortgage loan set-up by the shelter's founder and prior owner of
the building. Funds are needed to meet monthly expenses such as utility
bills, med costs, etc.
An article about this situation ran today (Sun, July 22) in the Dallas
Morning News, Metropolitan Section and Irving city section. The writer (if
you'd like to check the legitimacy of this information) is Barrie Page Hill
(972-594-7198 ext 2001 or e-mail [email protected]). The Dallas area NBC
affiliate, Channel 5, will be airing the story on the 10 p.m. news tonight.
For more info on the DFW (stands for Dallas/Ft. Worth) Humane Society, you
can visit their web site at www.dfwhumane.com (http://www.dfwhumane.com) or contact them at
972-253-3333. The shelter address for mailing donations is: 1611 W. Irving
Boulevard, Irving, TX 75061.
Please pass this notice to rescue groups that might be able to help increase
adoptions. And please cross-post to all the animal lovers you know. I'm
embarrassed to say that in this home town of mine, there are 187,000
residents and not even enough donations to keep the humane society in good
financial standing. We also have a city-funded animal control shelter. But
the Humane Society is a separate organization with Section 501(C) non-profit
status. Your donations are tax deductible.
Thanks for spreading the word!