If you’re thinking about adopting a new pet for your family, think no further than our local small animal rescue, no-kill shelter, CAPS. Churchill Animal Protection Society was established in 1986 to rescue dogs and cats in the community and adopt them out to their forever homes. Started by what was referred to as “the dirty dozen” the organization has grown over the years in resources, volunteers, and happy pets.
The CAPS mission is to find permanent, caring homes for the dogs and cats in their care, and the group takes that mission very seriously.
Executive Director Gabriela Negrete recently made a presentation to the Churchill County Commissioners reporting on the annual activities of the organization and asking the county to continue their support of CAPS in the amount of $20,000 for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
According to Negrete, during 2020 CAPS took in 131 animals, 58 cats and 73 dogs, but they also were able to adopt out 132 animals. The organization also offers a low-cost spay and neuter program for the community. The dogs live in inside-outside kennels and get to socialize daily in the play yard. Normally CAPS is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and this is when the volunteers go and walk the dogs and play with them. On Tuesdays and Fridays all the dogs take turns going to the local doggie daycare to socialize and have time away from the shelter. (Witnesses can also attest to McDonald’s cheeseburger stops.)
The cats all live indoors in floor-to-ceiling condos with scratchers and ledges, in the near vicinity of volunteers who get to play with them during the day.
In her presentation, Negrete said while the COVID situation has been a challenge for everyone, CAPS is not an exception. Because they are fully funded by donations and fundraising, the COVID restrictions resulted in cancelling almost all of their events. Between the Kissing Booth, Bark in the Park, and the Mystery Dinner CAPS, suffered a loss of nearly $20,000 in just event fundraising alone.
Added to that, the normal wear and tear on the facility with building maintenance and repairs, CAPS is in a bit of a pinch. Negrete said that the biggest need right now is a solution to their water problem. CAPS is located off Pasture Road, just west of NAS Fallon in a spot where the ground water happens to be fairly bad. Not only is it unhealthy for the animals, but the high mineral concentrates have also damaged the concrete floors of the facility. While volunteers have been bringing in bottled water for the animals, she said that is not sustainable. The immediate, urgent fix is to install a reverse osmosis system at the cost of $1,750.
Additionally, the cost to repair the floors with a polyurethane cement product that could sustain the wear and tear of 130 animals a year, is upward of $40,000.
Negrete said she and her band of volunteers with continue their fundraising efforts and continue doing all they can for the community pets, but in thanking them for their continued support over the years she asked the county to extend that funding support into the next year.
Commissioners are taking into consideration all the organization requests they receive during the budget season and will notify organizers by letter of the amount of support they will provide this year.
Comment
Comments