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Help save the animals

ANDY SMITH/Guest Opinion | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 5 months AGO
by ANDY SMITH/Guest Opinion
| August 9, 2014 9:00 PM

Dear Community: I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the exciting progress at your local humane society.

As president of the Kootenai Humane Society (KHS), I am proud to announce that our adoption and save rates have exceeded our expectations and continue to break yearly records. In 2014 alone, over 1,400 animals have been adopted; over 150 animals have been returned to their owners; and the save rate for 2014 is already 95 percent. The save rate for 2013 was 94 percent. I am extremely proud of the board members, staff, volunteers, and supporters of KHS who helped make our No-Kill mission possible. A sincere thank you goes out to all who have worked tirelessly in all capacities with KHS and our community for proving that there are more homes and hearts than unwanted animals in North Idaho.

In 2002, KHS was killing for kennel space at a rate of 55 percent of all animals that came through our doors. In real numbers that was over 2,000 animals that died that year. The animal shelter at the end of the road was a sad place and many members of the community just could not come out and help or visit the animals because it just hurt too much. KHS was failing our community and the animals that came into our care.

Today KHS's adoption rate speaks for itself. Since becoming a No-Kill shelter in 2003, the save rate has more than doubled in the past decade. No animal is ever killed for kennel space. A No-Kill shelter is one where no savable animal is ever killed. There are some animals that are hopelessly ill or injured, or irremediably suffering that for reasons of mercy must be killed. Vicious dogs with a poor prognosis for rehabilitation must be killed. At KHS, we do not misuse the term "adoptable." If an animal has a condition that is treatable medically or behaviorally, it is savable. Feral cats are savable or non-savable depending on their medical condition only. Animals are not judged by their looks, age, or disabilities. The emphasis is always, where possible, on lifesaving.

With this as our guide, KHS is on the right track in making North Idaho a very safe place for animals looking for their next home. The little shelter at the end of the road has evolved into KHS's Pet Adoption Center and is now a very happy place to visit. Every animal that finds its way to KHS will find a home in our community.

Since becoming president of the KHS board of directors in 2006, I have had the privilege of working with many community members in creating a Humane Society that we can all be proud of. The current and past board of directors, all volunteers, along with KHS's staff and volunteers, get all the credit for believing in and implementing the plan. This team's love for the animals and passion to create a better Humane Society is unwavering. In the book "Good to Great," Jim Collins explains that the most successful organizations invest significant time in ensuring that they have "the right people on the bus." When you have the right people on the team in every position, everything falls into place. Thanks goes out to our management team for raising the bar and believing and implementing the mission of KHS. And a bigger thank you goes to our volunteer manager/ coordinator for increasing our active volunteer group to 175 active volunteers. That is more than double last year's active volunteers. To all veteran volunteers and new volunteers, the biggest thank you for helping transform KHS to a truly humane society!

As Kootenai County's only humane society, we operate mainly on donations. It is always a challenge to continue our life-saving efforts. Adoption fees will never pay for the care of the animals that come through the door. KHS works on a "paycheck to paycheck" budget. As of today, more funds are needed to continue our lifesaving efforts. During the last years of the great recession, demand on our services has dramatically increased. We have seen a rise in the community's need of low-cost spay and neuter, helping people keep their pets fed through our food pantry, helping victims of violence flee with the pets that provide love and support, and the quantity of animals needing temporary housing.

As the increased need from our community has skyrocketed, due to the recession, our donations have not increased. Seventy-one percent of all donations, adoption fees and fee for service income goes directly to animal care. KHS does not receive any tax money and is NOT supported by the government. KHS is solely supported by this community through its donations and purchase of KHS's services.

The organization's financial reports (IRS Form 990, our yearly independent audit, and 2014 summary budget) are listed on our website at www.kootenaihumanesociety.com or at www.guidestar.com along with all legally qualifying 501 (3)(C) nonprofits.

The board of directors meets monthly. The location and time is posted on our website prior to each meeting. These meetings have always been open to the public and our supporters. We welcome anyone with a heart for saving our community's animals to attend and learn about the details of KHS's lifesaving work. Ask us how to become a board member; it is a rewarding position.

Today, I ask you to take time and reflect on how much joy, love, and happiness your pet has brought to your life and your family. Please help KHS bring that same feeling to others in our community. I invite you to become a "Friend of KHS" and support our lifesaving mission. Please visit our website for more information.

Andy Smith is Kootenai Humane Society board president.

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ARTICLES BY ANDY SMITH/GUEST OPINION

August 9, 2014 9 p.m.

Help save the animals

Dear Community: I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the exciting progress at your local humane society.