UNION CITY, Ind. - The PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Animal Rescue and Shelter’s building is up at 400 S. Plum St., here; however, it may be a little while before animals can be placed there.
Ground was broken in November 2011 and construction started in March 2012. Inside the facility will also be an office, lobby and treatment room, the latter hopefully to be used by a veterinarian, if needed, and possibly low-cost vaccinations.
“Now, it’s just for dogs,” said Shelly King, president of the PAWS board. “We eventually want a few cats, but it will be awhile. That will be a very small number until we see if it works. We plan on giving it a try with the cattery room.”
Dogs will be moved in as soon as the 12 kennels are finished.
To help raise money for this building project, various fund-raisers were held, including a Picture With Santa Paws, Texas Hold-em Tournament, a Pizza Hut Buffet Benefit, collection of aluminum cans, Bark in the Park three years in a row, Schwan’s product sales by the truckload, and many raffles, including one for a quilt.
They held a “Raise the Wood Roof” campaign so that Derek Brim of Brim Construction in Union City could work on the roofing, donating his labor to install it. The roofing material, it was noted, was one of the biggest expenses for the new facility.
“We have had a lot of labor and materials donated or given to us at a discounted price,” King said.
The facility was a collaboration of King’s and Dennis Schweigert, animal control officer and a street department worker in the village.
“With the economy, we were seeing more dogs in town,” said King. “So, we formed the animal rescue group and formed a board.”
Until the building is finished, the dogs are now being kept at the city kennel or in foster homes.
Serving with her on the board are Susan Hufford, vice president; Sally Poling, secretary; Tami Mikesell, treasurer; and Linda Wood, Faith Smith and Bonnie Murphy.
In its 2 1/2-year existence, the board has had more than 300 dogs get rescued and reunited with their families or adopted,” King said. “They are posted immediately, and, after the seven days are up, we get them adoptable and post them on petfinder.com.”
“Dogs we have rescued have gone to Louisville, Ky., quite a few homes in Indiana, and many other places,” she said.
The board, she said, continues to accept donations, whether it be monetary, cleaning supplies and/or toys and treats for the animals. However, they ask that rawhide not be donated.
They do ask that only Purina Dog Chow be the only dog food that is donated, because it’s easily accessible and good food.
Any donations, in the meantime, can be dropped off at the Corner Cupboard, King’s store, at 238 N. Columbia St., Union City, Ind.