They give us love unconditionally.
They meet us at the door, excited that we are finally home after being away from their daily lives for what appears to them as an eternity.
They can read our moods and provide a snuggle, a lick of the hand or a touch that makes things better.
And oh, those eyes they possess and can show so much emotion through.
Dogs have the ability to ease right into our lives, as important as any family member, and when they pass on after a short life compared to ours, we grieve.
Jerri Kelly and her husband Thomas have been grieving over the loss of their stepfather, George Mefford, and mother, Jacqueline.
As executor of his will, one of the things that George wanted was a donation to the local animal shelter. Last week, Jerri made that donation, one of $20,000 towards the cost of the new animal shelter being sought by Animal Control Supervisor John Bloomfield.
“Being able to move away from Rumpke and the truck traffice is beneficial for them and us,” Said Bloomfield, who added that the 20-year-old building does not provide enough space for what they do on a daily basis.
Pendleton County Fiscal Court has been looking at architectural plans for a new building over the early months of 2021 and are poised to start the fundraising aspect of the build.
“John is doing some work now on an estimated price,” said Fields about when the fundraising for the project will begin.
While Bloomfield would love to see the doors open in the fall, the raising of funds for the project will determine the actual timeline of breaking ground and eventually opening the doors.
The new animal shelter is to be located on Ed Monroe Road and will be an upgrade on what is presently being used. The building will give the staff the opportunity to better handle the dogs that reach their shelter as well as larger animals that become the responsibility of the animal shelter staff. Presently, those animals are housed at farms of willing individuals at a cost to the county.
“There are always new methods that we need to adopt, but our present location limits our ability to do that,” said Bloomfield.
While the donation sets the tone for the rest of the county, the money is not the only support her family has provided the animal shelter. According to Bloomfield, her grandkids have volunteered at the animal shelter in the past.
“She had said, ‘It may inspire others to donate to the new shelter,’” said Bloomfield.
With the joy our pets bring, how about each of us look at our finances and return some of the love to those that are housed at the animal shelter while they await their forever family.
Kelly provided us the inspiration; let’s act on it.
Fields said that anyone wishing to make a donation toward the new animal shelter can do so at his office located in the county building off Main Street.
For someone who works with the lost animals of the county, Bloomfield said, “To me, its an incentive that could jump start our fundraising and get the ball rolling, but we still have a long way to go and need the community’s support.”
Just think of it of just a little return for all of those tags wagging excitedly at our return home, the nuzzles, the snuggling, the loving eye, or just the unconditional love they provide us each and every day, no matter how bad the day might have been.
