SIDNEY — SCARF (Shelby County Animal Rescue Foundation) was organized approximately four years ago after community members recognized a need for a group to represent and support abused and neglected animals in Shelby County.
SCARF board member Julie Ehemann has submittedthe following report:
SCARF’s mission is to raise funds to support the Shelby County Animal Shelter in safe adoptions, education & community outreach concerning abused and neglected animals, medical procedures, eliminating euthanasia of adoptable animals, and maintaining best practices.
SCARF works to assist the humane-agent trained employees of the Shelby County Animal Shelter in their efforts to take care of dogs and cats in the Shelter. This involvement has resulted in decreasing euthanasia so that adoptable animals are housed until they find their forever home. In 2016 SCARF paid $11,611 for immunizations and vet care for the animals at the Shelter and facilitated the collection of donations on behalf of the Shelter consisting of food, blankets, treats, cleaning supplies, etc.
SCARF volunteers assisted the Shelter employees with their spay/neuter clinics and low-cost vaccination clinics. Volunteers also helped to groom pets, and walk dogs to keep them more sociable and active.
SCARF conducted adoption drives on behalf of the Shelter at the Shelter, at PetValu and at Lochards Hardware. SCARF also assisted people in finding adoptable pets via support of the Animal Shelter’s adoption process and the utilization of www.petfinder.com. With SCARF’s help, the Shelby County Animal Shelter had over 87 percent of dogs coming into the shelter adopted or re-united with their owners. Other dogs were transferred to rescue centers throughout the United States or remain waiting for adoption.
Various fundraisers were conducted this past year including Walk to End Parvo, Cans for Canines, SCARF’s annual Garage Sale, Dimes for Dogs and Cats, Top Dog Calendar Contest, the Top Cat Contest, Bad Art by Good People in conjunction with the Gateway Arts Council and the Lip-Sync Battle.
The Shelby County Animal Shelter and SCARF, along with financial support from the City of Sidney, began a program addressing the issue of cat over-population in the City of Sidney at the beginning of 2016. The TNR clinic (trap-neuter-return) uses SCARF volunteers to trap cats at pre-determined locations with a mobile Veterinarian unit utilized to perform spay and neuter procedures before the cats are returned to their neighborhoods. Cats are given rabies vaccinations and are given health exams while at the clinic. Four clinics were scheduled in 2016 resulting in 91 cats that were spayed or neutered. Four cats were euthanized due to health concerns. Plans are in place for six clinics in 2017.
The involvement of SCARF volunteers in the Animal Shelter’s activities brought about a recognition of the current animal shelter’s shortcomings. In late 2015 SCARF launched a campaign to raise funds for a new Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. The new facility will be named the Bob Sargeant & Family Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. A recent effort resulted in all 30 remaining kennels to be adopted (sponsored) in 30 days. Current pledges and donations total over $1.7 million with a goal of $2.4 million.
SCARF members continue to reach out to businesses and private individuals to raise the necessary funds for the new Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. The Community Foundation of Shelby County has been retained to facilitate the process of pledging and donating to this endeavor.
SCARF volunteers are thankful for the outpouring of support they have received from the community thus far, and will continue their efforts in 2017 to raise funds in support of the animals at the animal shelter.
More information can be found at www.helpshelbycountyanimals.com.
