PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Humane Society-operated county animal shelter, which faces county budget cuts as do many other departments, needs donations to offset a $21,575 loss.
“As long as the county continues to run it, that’s fine,” Humane Society President Paul Becker said at the shelter Thursday, as he put out a call for community financial support.
“We’ll handle fundraising to make up for shortfalls.”
With a 2010 budget of about $120,000, the animal shelter is seeing a $21,575 reduction in county funding, which eliminates the second of two part-time clerk positions at the shelter.
Clerks typically answer phones and show visitors animals up for adoption at the shelter, among other duties. The former clerks each worked two days a week before their jobs were cut.
Two Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies — Bruce Turner and Alex Mintz — rotate as animal control officers along with Becker, who also serves as an animal control reserve officer. They respond to calls and now share the front desk duties and Becker and other volunteers.
“We always try to provide a response anyway,” Becker said, regardless of staffing limitations.
As part of the county reduction, the shelter eliminates $9,000 in cremation services, which is now contracted out.
The crematorium was worn out after many years of use and Turner said it cost $12,000 in propane to operate last year.
All animal food is donated to the shelter by supporters around the county.
Formed two years ago
The Humane Society was formed two years ago, Becker said, after animal support organizations saw funding cuts coming. The society works in partnership with Olympic Mountain Pet Pals and Center Valley Rescue.
Pet Pals is primarily focused on spaying and neutering programs. Becker said that has had a great impact on stemming unwanted pets in the county, which might otherwise end up at the shelter.
The Humane Society has helped to organize about 75 volunteers to keep the shelter in operation.
“The shelter is operated basically 99 percent by volunteers,” he said.
The shelter at 112 Critter Lane, off the road to the county landfill transfer station south of Port Townsend, holds up to 18 cats and 15 dogs at a time.
Volunteers start work at 9 a.m., some tending to the cats, others cleaning the kennel and some walking dogs.
The shelter has a pet-finding Web site at www.petfinder.com/shelters/WA262.html, that has drawn people to the shelter from around the state and even Canada, Becker said.
“Jefferson County has an excellent reputation,” he said.
Spayed and neutered pets can get license chips at the shelter for computer identification at a cost of $20 for two years.
Becker said he hopes the society can raise enough money to build a reserve fund to help maintain the shelter and improve its services.
Dollar donations to the shelter can be sent to Humane Society of Jefferson County WA, P.O. Box 845, Port Hadlock, WA 98339-0845 or they can be delivered to 112 Critter Lane, off the landfill transfer station road off South Jacob Miller Road.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.