At Little Victories Animal Rescue Group volunteers are working to raise money to build a no kill animal shelter for our four-legged friends who have been abandoned.
By Amy Persinger
HQ 53 | AUTUMN 2004
Everyone has a dream and Little Victories Rescue Group, Inc. has developed a campaign to ensure that their dream becomes a reality.
Little Victories, a group of volunteers in the community that plan to build a no kill animal shelter for abandoned pets, is preparing to launch its capital campaign, the theme of which is “Give Me Shelter.” The initial goal is to raise $80,000 to purchase land for the shelter and begin building temporary structures. This is the first of three goals that Sue Brown, president of Little Victories, and approximately 100 volunteer members, are striving to reach.
Little Victories began with Brown’s love for animals and her concern for the six to eight million dogs and cats that are euthanized every year in the United States. The euthanization rate in the Huntington-Putnam area is about 75 percent, but other areas of the country have rates as low as 20 percent. With this campaign the group aims to raise enough money to build a no kill shelter for companion and farm animals.
“We want more than just a concrete warehouse full of animals,” Brown said. “The no kill shelter will be a home for these animals. Through fundraising and donations we hope to acquire 30 or more acres of land to build the animal sanctuary,” Brown said.
Many things will make this animal shelter more like a sanctuary. Plans include separate buildings for cats and dogs, a quarantine section for animals that are ill, and stables and fields for farm animals. The rural setting must be void of public nuisances because the animals will be free to run outside in enclosed areas.
Further plans include a dog park where owners can bring their companions to play and exercise. There will also be a memorial park cemetery on the premises where pet lovers can pay their respects to furry friends they have lost.
“When I was young, neighbors brought their sick pets to my house and I would try to nurse them back to health,” Brown said. “I guess I’ve actually been doing this my whole life.”
The second goal Little Victories members are working toward is the education of the area’s youth. Volunteers are writing programs to be used in schools to teach children the responsibilities of caring for a pet. Certain programs are geared for children while other programs keep adults in mind. No matter the age, Little Victories wants people to establish respect for animals and not view them as “property” to be “discarded” when the pet is no longer young and cute.
The final goal is to establish an aggressive Spay and Neuter Campaign to control the large number of unwanted animals born on the streets or into homes where they are not wanted. Although some of these goals are set for the future, members are currently caring for stray animals in foster homes and raising money needed to provide medical care and spaying and neutering.
Since the first meeting in April 2003 the group has raised more than $12,000 in the building fund alone through Little Victories sponsored events like the Cause for Paws Parade for Pets in Ritter Park, Longaburger Basket Bingo, Boyd’s Bear Bingo and the New and Used Flea Market at Owens Illinois Clubhouse. Money collected from fundraisers is added to the building fund for the shelter and land. Individuals can donate to the fund of their choice with three to choose from: the building fund, operating fund and the medical fund.
“We have a lot of community support,” said Tina Williams, coordinator for the New and Used Flea Market. “Many say this is something the community needs and have asked to volunteer. People from all socioeconomic backgrounds have offered support because animals touch people from all walks of life.”
When Little Victories members are not raising money for the no kill animal sanctuary they are volunteering to improve the lives of sick, abused or abandoned animals. The members take stray animals into their homes until an owner claims them or they are adopted. Before a new owner takes a “forever friend” home, volunteer members get the animal spayed or neutered and treated for any illnesses with funds from their own pocket or the medical fund.
A small group of members are working to control the population of feral (or “wild”) cats in the area. These members are learning about feral cats and working to get them off the streets. A planned spay and neuter program will drastically reduce the amount of feral cats on the streets. Some of the cats are considered too wild to be domesticated so they are spayed or neutered and released.
However, feral kittens can be taken off the streets, socialized and adopted.
There are many ways to get involved in the program. Little Victories is always in need of volunteers and donations of money and supplies. A list of the supplies needed may be found on their website at www.littlevictories.org The website also posts pictures of animals to be adopted and a memorial page in honor of beloved pets that have passed on. The dream story, an imaginary field trip to the future no kill shelter, can also be found on the website.
But before this dream can come true the land for the shelter must be acquired. Log on to see how you can help Little Victories help the animals.
How Can I Help?
If you would like to see a no kill animal shelter for abandoned pets built in the Huntington region, please contribute to the “Give Me Shelter” capital campaign.
Send contributions to:
Little Victories Animal Rescue Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 247
Barboursville, WV 25504
or visit www.littlevictories.org
