Animal center looks to 'Finish The Journey'

COEUR d’ALENE - Companions Animal Center has 28 dog kennels.

Each is filled.

“We have so many large dogs right now that people are surrendering or just letting them go, and animal control is picking them up,” said Vicky Nelson, development director.

The no-kill shelter is seeing an increase in animals as it prepares for its annual fundraiser, “Finish The Journey,” set for July 18.

Hosted by the Hagadone Corp., it will be at Hagadone Gardens at Casco Bay. It includes a boat ride across Lake Coeur d’Alene, food, drinks, time to explore the grounds and a chance to win a cruise on the “Sizzler” sailboat.

The evening is considered crucial to the future of the area’s homeless animals.

Nelson said proceeds will go toward paying the remaining $1.9 million on the $8 million campaign for its new home.

“This is how we do it. We fundraise all the time,” Nelson said to about 30 members of the Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotary Club at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. “We’re constantly fundraising so we can keep the cost of our programs low, so everybody can afford it.”

Formerly known as the Kootenai Humane Society, the nonprofit recently left its old home on Ramsey Road. It plans to auction off what it can there and tear down the structure.

It moved into its new 22,000-square-foot home at 10275 N. Atlas Road earlier this year. The new digs have capacity for 71 cats and 62 dogs.

“Hopefully, we can add on another dog wing that we had to unfortunately not build this time because of funds, so we’ll be able to double our dog capacity at that time,” Nelson said.

Companions Animal Center doesn't rely on large gifts.

Nelson said 93% of donations over the last 10 years were small, averaging about $8 a month.

The nonprofit currently has more than 9,000 donors.

“It’s the community that supports us and Companions Animal Center is for the community,” she said.

Companions operates on an annual budget of about $1.3 million, with funds coming from donations, adoption and service fees and its Coeur d’Alene thrift store.

Last year, it found homes for 1,412 animals, including 652 cats, 683 dogs, 31 rabbits, 21 guinea pigs, 10 rodents, four birds and one reptile.

Caring for all those critters is costly.

“The biggest expense is medical,” Nelson said. “The medical that we have to pay for is unbelievable.”

Tickets to “Finish the Journey” are $195 and can be purchased at companionsanimalcenter.org.