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Long time coming

December 21, 2009 13:12

It's been over two decades in the making, but Friday a significant step forward was finally made in the Alliston and District Humane Society's efforts to establish a permanent animal shelter in South Simcoe.

More than 20 years ago a small group of passionate people, who at the time included Ron and Ronnie Kent, Rick Foley and Glenn Perrett, got together to meet a need in our community and formed the A&DHS. Annual meetings were held in one of the classrooms at Banting Memorial High School and the group had, what can best be described as, a shoestring budget.

Even then, the ultimate goal was to establish a permanent animal shelter. The trouble was, the heart of the entirely volunteer-run organization, was always bigger than its wallet.

The people behind the society have always been, first and foremost, animal lovers. As a result, as donations came in over the years, they went right back out to help subsidize the spaying and neutering cats and dogs that came into their care and were up for adoptions, operations to save their lives, and their day-to-day care.

It was a never ending cycle. Money in, more abandoned pets to care for, money out. That's primarily why it took so long for a shelter to become a reality. A&DHS volunteers were able to scrape together enough money to buy a plot of land a number of years ago, out in Adjala-Tosorontio which was a significant step forward.

Friday a grant of $533,000 from the federal and provincial governments enabled the group to move forward once again.

There's still more work to be done. The society needs to come up with their third of the capital project cost - over $266,000 - and there are still a few site plan hurdles to overcome that some members of Adjala-Tosorontio council seem to be throwing up in front of the project.

And of course there are still animals to be cared for in the meantime. Do what you can to help. Our communities need this valuable organization and the volunteers behind it.

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