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View Full Version : Please Vote With Me on Tuesday....

JackieB
11-02-2008, 06:46 PM
to expand the Oceana County Animal Shelter!

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg288/JackieB_2008/IMG_0869Edited.jpg

This Tuesday, the ballot in our county will include a proposal for a much-needed expansion to our county-run animal shelter. The shelter was built in 1975, has just nine kennels, and is virtually always full. The population of the county has more than doubled during this time, but the shelter is the same size. Sadly, a lot of adoptable dogs and cats (no significant behavioral or health problems) have to go to the Rainbow Bridge after a brief stay because there isn't enough room to keep them longer. There are some wonderful volunteers who keep dogs and cats in foster care to help out, but we really need a bigger shelter.

So, I've been going to stores in the community on Sunday afternoons handing out flyers and asking voters to vote for the shelter expansion. This picture is from this afternoon. I think the poor bassett/beagle mix I am holding wasn't very comfortable. :) He came with some other volunteers and I had just met him.

Please send some positive thoughts our way this Tuesday if you would. If you lived in Oceana County, Michigan (:) Just me in the forum!), I'd also be asking you to please vote "Yes!".
rocknK
11-02-2008, 06:53 PM
The poor pooch doesn't look comfortable because he's worried about being dropped! Good luck with this worthy cause, all animals deserve the best care we can give them.
WashingtonBay
11-02-2008, 07:05 PM
Good luck to you and the pooches, JackieB! :)
vicklynn
11-02-2008, 07:06 PM
Great job JackieB. Keep up the good work.
Id vote yes if I lived there.
WashingtonBoy
11-02-2008, 07:11 PM
Good luck, I'm with ya in spirit!
alittleoffkey
11-02-2008, 07:46 PM
Good luck! I don't see how anyone could vote against that cause. :)
kd4resq
11-02-2008, 09:36 PM
I hope things go well for the shelter.
Annie&Dixie
11-02-2008, 09:46 PM
I'd vote for ya guys if I was there! Good luck, I don't know how you could vote no on expanding a shelter. The little doggy you're holding is cute. :)
Cat
11-02-2008, 09:58 PM
Good luck!
cyb
11-03-2008, 07:15 AM
Good luck with your shelter! All the cats I own are strays.
Tatesgram
11-03-2008, 08:00 AM
Great cause, good luck on the votes!
gaited07
11-03-2008, 09:10 AM
Good luck JackieB!
JackieB
11-04-2008, 09:54 PM
Thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes. Our proposal for a shelter expansion didn't pass, but we are already planning to regroup and try again next time!




http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg288/JackieB_2008/IMG_0869Edited.jpg
alittleoffkey
11-04-2008, 10:07 PM
Awe, I'm sorry JackieB. :( Prayers for next time! :cowboy:
JackieB
11-04-2008, 10:29 PM
Awe, I'm sorry JackieB. :( Prayers for next time! :cowboy:

Thanks, ALOK. We'll get there.
HoustonFarrier
11-05-2008, 09:20 AM
Jackie...good luck on future plans for the shelter. It's a daunting task, which I understand fully.

Steve
Equine_Woman
11-05-2008, 11:10 AM
JackieB stick with it!! You're doing a great thing!!! We don't even have an animals shelter right now in our county and I can't tell you how horrible that is.
KittySawrus
11-05-2008, 01:12 PM
Aww, darnit JackieB! Hope you can get them rallied round for next time, so good luck for the future :) if I were there I'd so vote...and so would all my friends and family!!
JackieB
11-05-2008, 01:38 PM
Thanks everyone! You're just the best friends a boy could hope to have. :)

I'm not taking it personally, and I don't blame the voters who voted against this proposal, either. Property taxes are a big issue! Big! I can understand if someone is thinking "Look, you get enough of my money already. If the county wants to expand the shelter, they can do it within the existing budget. You don't need more".

We just need to either do a better job of selling this proposal, or come back at a time when people aren't so worried about their jobs.
shewasmyshadow
11-05-2008, 01:46 PM
What about opening a rescue using only private foster homes? I know MN makes special provisions for these type of rescues. I believe in MN you could get donations from those who want it to happen and those donation are tax-deductible. I know they get other stuff too. Just an idea...
JackieB
11-05-2008, 01:51 PM
What about opening a rescue using only private foster homes? I know MN makes special provisions for these type of rescues. I believe in MN you could get donations from those who want it to happen and those donation are tax-deductible. I know they get other stuff too. Just an idea...

We do that already. Thanks for the suggestion, though. There are several volunteers who foster A LOT of animals. Like hundreds over the course of a year. And it helps immensely.

But ultimately, we need a bigger shelter. The current one is so small. The area where the animals are housed is about 500 sq. feet total with nine dog kennels and five or six cat cages.
shewasmyshadow
11-05-2008, 02:05 PM
That's good. I've been considering taking in pregnant cats and young litters. I know I couldn't handle dogs/puppies, but I might be able to do cats/kittens. I'd like to do it privately though and not work with a rescue. They are so strict and it's hard to find homes when they are like that. My mom and I worked with ferals for years and enjoyed that.

Can the shelter take in private donations and work toward expansion that way? Could you campaign for money from private parties? Or perhaps someone would want to put money toward the shelter and name it after a lost pet or loved one? Sorry, I can't shut down. I keep thinking of stuff to ask you. :rolleyes: