Humane Society campaign something to bark about
LOREN BENOIT/Press file Vicky Nelson gives a dog a warm hug after it was airlifted to Coeur d’Alene Airport for the Kootenai Humane Society in 2016.
Rendering courtesy of Kootenai Humane Society The nonprofit Kootenai Humane Society has plans to construct a new facility along Atlas Road north of Hayden Avenue in Hayden. A capital campaign has been launched to fund the project. Construction may start as soon as this fall, depending on fundraising.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d'ALENE — The community is quickly becoming the cat's meow on this fundraiser.
Not even a month into a $6.5 million fundraising campaign for a new 24,000-square-foot Kootenai Humane Society animal shelter, nearly a third of the funds has been received or pledged.
Debbie Jeffrey, executive director of the nonprofit no-kill facility, said Friday nearly $2.1 million has been either received or pledged. Most of that amount — $1.9 million — is already in hand, she said.
“We’re doing well,” Jeffrey said. “There are a lot of animal lovers here. A lot of people have seen the condition our shelter is in and that it is needed."
Jeffrey said she hopes for a surge in donations heading into summer.
"We're still scheduling to meet with people because everybody is so busy," she said. "But, when we have outreach events, everybody is really excited about it. Some people don't have money to write big checks, but it's surprising how much can still be raised."
Jeffrey said a builder will be chosen for the project soon.
KHS is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Jim Faucher, a fundraising consultant, said the KHS capital campaign committee wants to break ground when 90 percent of the funds are either in hand or pledged.
The committee hopes to break ground at the new site on the west side of Atlas Road north of Hayden Avenue in Hayden later this year, but it depends on donations.
Duane and Lola Hagadone will open the expansive gardens at their home in Casco Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene to benefit the campaign.
The fundraiser will be held the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Guests will enjoy food and cocktails in the gardens and arrive via a cruise boat from The Coeur d'Alene Resort. Ticket information and more details will be announced in the near future.
The Kootenai Humane Society's current 15,000-square-foot cinderblock facility at 11650 N. Ramsey Road, next to the Coeur d'Alene Airport, lacks energy efficiency, sufficient space for animals and operations, and visual appeal inside and out.
KHS has been at the same location since it started. The facility was expanded in the early 1980s and again in the late 1980s.
Contrary to popular belief, KHS is not part of the Kootenai County government agency, doesn't receive county funding and is not a part of The Humane Society of the United States.
KHS rents its current 2-acre property from the county for $1,392 a month. The nonprofit owns its building, but the county owns the land.
The nonprofit adopted out 2,023 animals last year, including dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits and birds, compared to 1,231 in 2010.
The shelter also takes in animals brought in by animal control departments for the Coeur d'Alene and Rathdrum police departments.
The current facility can take in a total of 60 dogs and 60 cats, including isolation areas for sick animals.
The cat side is always at capacity with a waiting list. The dog portion generally isn't in as high demand, but it's still tight. KHS has been able to accept dogs from other parts of the country.
The new building will be able to accept about 85 dogs and 120 cats.
Tax-deductible donations can be sent to KHS at P.O. Box 1005, Hayden, ID 83835. Designate "new shelter capital campaign" with your donation. The KHS website, kootenaihumanesociety.com, also has a button for donations.
As part of the campaign, several naming opportunities in the new facility are available for donors.
For more information, contact Jeffrey at 208-449-3412, Vicky Nelson at 208-819-2812 or Faucher at 208-660-0571 or jimfaucher@gmail.com.