Local animal shelter seeking partners to help complete renovations
A lot of work got done on Aug. 13, but Partners For Pets still needs more help in completing renovations to its new facility.
Partners For Pets was able to secure new property at 9136 Lower Marine Road between Troy and St. Jacob, and with help from local volunteers, all the feline friends have been successfully relocated to the new facility. The dogs, however, are still being cared for in the old, much smaller facility, until the new buildings can be completed with renovations and additions.
Two local companies, UniQue Personnel Consultants and Oasis Construction, spent the day volunteering at the new Partners for Pets shelter on Saturday, the 13th. The Oasis Construction Team was instrumental in assisting with some of the heavier construction projects needed to continue renovations. The UniQue staff was on hand for extra labor support, additional cleaning and organizing.
“I was just shocked. I was so excited that they would come out and help us,” said director and founder of Partners for Pets Lisa McCormick. “We weren’t sure how we were going to get things done and when they showed up, it was amazing. There were probably 30 people there and a lot of companies have stepped up to help us.”
Skilled hands and big hearts were available to assist those who are “regular” volunteers at shelter, including Tom Slegt, Katie Mondy Hughes, Dominick Bogaski and Steve Scheller. Also Todd Alons, who donates almost every weekend to tackling the shelter’s construction projects.
“It was a fun experience helping out Partners For Pets. It is amazing what can happen when a lot of people show up to volunteer their time to help out a local company. It was a great experience working alongside both UniQue and Partners For Pets,” said Mike Verning, vice president of Oasis Construction.
UniQue also donated $500 to assist with additional renovations, as well as leashes for the shelter.
“Being able to volunteer for such a great cause is what we’re (Oasis & UniQue) all about. We are all animal lovers, many of us with rescues at home, so this was a perfect way to spend a Saturday,” said Gary Hunsche, president of UniQue.
However, there is still quite a bit of work to be done.
“We have to get the outside fencing put up and we are working on getting all the doors on the kennels made,” McCormick said. “We have to get our septic system put in because the one that’s there isn’t adequate.” McCormick hopes the new facility will be completed by the end of the year.
Along with UniQue and Oasis, more organizations have stepped up to help Partners 4 Pets. During the weekend of Aug. 19, the The Carpenters Union Local 664 helped complete the overhang to provide shade for the dogs at the shelter.
Partners For Pets has rescued more than 15,000 dogs and cats from the pounds since 2003. All of those animals would have been euthanized otherwise. The organization seeks out the sick, injured, elderly and terrified animals that have almost no chance of making it, from the pounds.
Last year, Partners For Pets adopted 1,348 dogs and cats to new homes.
To donate or to adopt a pet, or for more information, go to partnersforpetsil.org.
Partners for Pets needs
Partners for Pets still needs a lot more help to get their shelter completed. Here are a few other donations that would help:
▪ Fill dirt (Can be brought at any time, signs are posted)
▪ Outside enclosed cat area
▪ Astro Turf for outside dog areas (Bid have not yet been received for this)
▪ Doors for each kennel
▪ Septic system
▪ Well for the main kennel
▪ Cargo container and pad to store food
▪ Outside individual kennel runs for those that don’t play well together
To donate or to adopt a pet, go to partnersforpetsil.org
This story was originally published August 27, 2016 at 11:20 AM with the headline "Local animal shelter seeking partners to help complete renovations."