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Humane Society gets aid of Greene County

By Steve Barrett For The 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – One week after officially presenting the Humane Society of Greene County with a $25,000 donation, the Greene County Commissioners announced another fund-raising initiative dedicated to helping the organization. Last month, representatives from the society expressed concerns to local media that increased expenses, combined with dwindling funds, were pointing to the possibility that the shelter may have to cease operation by year’s end.

The non-profit organization relies on fund-raising initiatives, private donations, volunteers and an established endowment to successfully sustain its operations. Although the humane society has been able to raise funds needed to operate the shelter over the past 20 years, the society has had to use some of the endowment money each year to help defray some of the operating costs.

Even though the society has done what it can to reduce costs and lower its budget, there is still concern that what is left of the endowment fund will not be enough to pay for operating costs in 2006. As a result of this financial crisis, the society faces the very real possibility that its doors could close permanently.

County commissioners presented the Humane Society with a $25,000 donation on June 29. The funding, which is earmarked from the county’s general fund, will be used to pay for operating costs at the shelter. The commissioners have made annual contributions of $10,000, but increased the amount this year.

The Humane Society is not affiliated with the county, but it is the only agency in the county that handles abused, abandoned and unwanted animals.

The county donated the land where the society’s building is located and waives the rental fees at the county fairgrounds where the society holds its weekly bingo fund-raisers.

To further assist the Humane Society, the commissioners announced on Wednesday that the county is holding a Steelers’ basket and cooler raffle for the public, in which all proceeds will benefit the shelter.

The basket contains a number of Steelers items and merchandise, including two tickets for a home game this season as well as towels, T-shirts, gift cards, mugs, hats and much more. The basket is valued at $400. Items in the lunchbox cooler include a total of four Steelers tickets.

The drawings for both the basket and cooler will be held on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $2 each for the raffles and can be purchased at various locations in Waynesburg. For more information, call Connie McNeely at 724-852-5352.

The Humane Society has scheduled several fund-raisers as well, including the second annual Humane Society yard sale at the shelter on Aug. 5, a “Cash Bash” on Sept. 2 at the Greene County Fairgrounds’ 4-H building from 1 to 7 p.m., and the second annual “Dog Swim” at the Waynesburg Pool at the end of summer.

Bingo is also held every Sunday night at the fairgrounds. All proceeds benefit the humane society. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games start at 6.

The shelter is also in need of volunteers and donations. The shelter’s biggest need is clay cat litter and quality dog food.

For more information on the shelter, the fund-raisers, and/or donating or volunteering, call the Humane Society of Greene County at 724-627-9988.

In other business, the commissioners are expected to approve an agreement today between the county and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a grant that will be used to construct the county’s new aquatics center.

Construction on the new water park that will replace the 56-year-old Central Pool in Franklin Township is expected to begin after the pool closes for the summer for a Memorial Day 2007 opening.

The grant, which totals $198,820, is federal funding that was allocated through the office of U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha. The funding comes from a recreational grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The county is expected to draw down as much as $800,000 from the federal funding stream by the time constrcution of the new center is completed.

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