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Local animal shelter warns of capacity strain, seeks funding for new $5M facility
Summary
PAWS shelter told commissioners it is over capacity (44 animals), operates at ~97% placement rate and relies on grants/donations for the majority of its $788,000 annual budget; the nonprofit is launching a capital campaign seeking roughly $5M for a larger shelter.
Representatives from PAWS (the local animal shelter) briefed the board on operational statistics and financing. Anne Loyola, who identified herself as shelter staff, said the organization was slightly over capacity with 44 animals in care and described a broad suite of services including a veterinary med fund, spay/neuter programs and a contract with law enforcement to hold bite cases.
PAWS' leaders showed intake and placement data and described funding sources: adoption and fines cover only a small portion of operating costs; the shelter relies principally on grants, donations and one-time gifts. The shelter reported a $788,000 annual operating budget and said local fundraising has been increasing but that the group still covers roughly 70% of annual need from nonlocal or one-off sources.
Shelter leadership said they are in a quiet phase of a capital campaign and have a design proposal for a 5,000-square-foot building estimated at $5 million to double current shelter capacity and create more secure indoor storage and training space. Commissioners and members of the public offered fundraising ideas (chili cook-offs, golf tournaments) and discussed potential local donor outreach and municipal support.
