Home | Our Mission | Become a Donor | Shelter Services | Contact Us | In the News
In the News:
Group buys property in city of Johnstown
By CHRISTINA CHAMBERLAIN, The Leader-Herald
Published on Monday, February 12, 2007
JOHNSTOWN — The Regional Animal Shelter has purchased land in the city and is one step closer to building a new shelter.
The non-profit organization purchased 26 acres on Maple Avenue and hopes to break ground on the property in June.
According to a news release, the Regional Animal Shelter was formed in 2002 by a group of animal control officers and concerned animal lovers, who decided there was a need for more options to house area strays and homeless animals.
Regional Animal Shelter Board President Peggy Galpin said approximately 15 volunteers have organized the group.
The group has been fundraising for five years to raise enough money to build a shelter to serve the local area.
She said the shelter has had coin drops and pancake breakfasts to raise funds and has also received many donations.
“The community has been great,” Galpin said. “They’ve been very supportive. Now that we have the land and we can establish and put a shelter up, I’m sure we’ll get more support.”
Galpin said the group formed because there were many stray animals in the area that had no place to go.
“We figured a third shelter [was needed] in the area,” she said. “I think we are right when you see all the strays.”
Stray animals in the area are now taken to the Fulton County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the James A. Brennan Memorial Humane Society.
The shelter would deal mainly with the animals from Fulton County, but would not refuse animals from Montgomery County either, Galpin said.
Group officials said they hope to establish contracts with municipalities, including Gloversville which recently decided not to extend its contract with the humane society.
The city’s contract with the humane society ended Dec. 31.
An agreement has been established between the city and Dr. Peter Bluvas of the Adirondack Park Animal Hospital. The hospital will accept the city’s animals on a temporary basis until the city establishes another option for its animals.
Mayor Tim Hughes said the city pays Bluvas on a per-animal basis.
“We are going to keep our options open,” Hughes said. “We are researching the possibilities even if it is just to hold us over until the Regional Animal Shelter is built or we build our own [shelter].”
Hughes said city officials are researching the possibility of constructing a shelter in the city. He said this would cost between $25,000 to $50,000, but the shelter would be self supporting.
“All the fees would go to the city instead of elsewhere,” Hughes said.
Galpin said the board plans to contact city officials and hopefully establish a contract.
“If we can get something up, at least the stray animals can be brought in,” she said.
Hughes said the city would entertain the option of contracting with the shelter.
First Ward Councilwoman Cynthia Morey said it is premature to comment if the city would establish a contract with the shelter.
“We don’t know what type of facility they’ll have or the type of contracts they’ll be offering,” Morey said. “Certainly we would look at anyone who offered us something. We always look at all our options.”
Councilman-at-Large James Handy said it would make sense for all municipalities to share in the cost of one shelter.
Handy said the city may consider the shelter, which could solve some of the city’s cat problems.
The shelter would start out with 30 runs and hopefully add another 20 in the future to have the capacity to care for 50 dogs, Galpin said.
The board has officers, a building and grounds committee and funding committee.
The organization meets the second Thursday of each month at the Johnstown Town Hall at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
Christina Chamberlain covers Gloversville. She can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.
Home | Our
Mission | Become a Donor | Shelter
Services | Contact Us |
In the
News
Regional Animal Shelter
PO Box 1274, Gloversville, NY 12078
518-773-7275
Copyright © 2007 Regional Animal Shelter, All
rights Reserved.
Last updated: May 24, 2007
Website designed & hosted by Spin-A-Web Technologies