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Humane Society Call Answered

Posted on: Monday, 20 October 2003, 06:00 CDT

The community is beginning to answer the call for help at the financially strapped Posey County Humane Society and a local resident has organized a fund-raiser Saturday to continue the cause.

Bill Stein, a computer technician at Mount Vernon High School, said his love of animals prompted him to begin raising money for the Humane Society, which has cut its hours and reduced staff in response to a critical shortage of funding.

Stein and his wife have collected $1,000 so far and hope more donations will come in Saturday at the Walk for Posey County Pooches, beginning at 11 a.m. at the circle drive at the high school. All residents and their pets are invited to participate for free in the three-mile walk, intended to raise awareness of the Humane Society's plight. All dogs must have proof of vaccinations.

"If it wasn't for the Humane Society, what would happen to all these animals?" Stein said. "Probably, most would die of starvation. Whatever the outcome, it wouldn't be as good if the Humane Society wasn't there."

In August, the financial crisis at the Posey County Humane Society forced the cutting of its hours. Adoptions and viewings that were once six days a week are now only three days a week, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday.

Stein and his wife have two dogs and a cat. He said Saturday's walk would help the Humane Society continue to recover from its financial problems.

"We're holding our own right now. It's still pretty much week by week," said Phyllis Ripplemeier, director of the Posey County Humane Society.

She said the future of the Humane Society is "still very much up in the air. The county government is not going to assist us in funding. They've already come out and said so."

If more funding is gathered, the Humane Society may expand its hours with the help of volunteers.

Other events are planned to help raise money, including a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Humane Society, 300 W. Second St., a Fido Fest dog walk and educational event on Oct. 25 at the Posey County 4-H Fairgrounds and a bowl-a-thon fund-raiser in November.

Adoptions at the Posey County Humane Society cost $75 for dogs and cats and include immunizations and spaying or neutering.

More information can be obtained by calling (812) 838-2311 or by visiting the Internet at www.poseyhumanesociety.org.

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