A grant from PetSmart Charities will allow the Golden Belt Humane Society to install larger, safer feline kennels, shelter director Heather Acheson said.
GBHS received a PetSmart Charities Operation Grant in the amount of $28,216 earlier this year. The current kennel system is comprised of fiberglass and aluminum materials, which harbor unwanted bacteria and other organisms paramount to an unhealthy type environment, Acheson said. The space is small and shared with a litter box, food and water dishes.
“The amount of strays or unwanted cats taken in each year — nearly 600 cats in 2016 — is staggering,” Acheson said. “Cats can carry many different diseases and fiberglass kennels are not an ideal setting. The new stainless-steel kennels will help prevent the spread of diseases, will ensure a safe, more sanitary and a suitable living environment during cats’ stay at the shelter.”
The stainless steel kennels will also provide a larger area for living with a separate area for a private bed and litter box.
Funding for general shelter operations can be scarce for animal welfare organizations. This is one of the reasons PetSmart Charities identified this as an area of great need and developed the “Operations Grant” to support animal welfare organizations. It is also part of PetSmart Charities’ newly expanded mission to find lifelong loving homes for all pets by supporting programs which bring people and pets together.
The Golden Belt Humane Society, located at 151 U.S. 281, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals, to educate and promote the betterment of all animals, and to provide shelter for unclaimed/unwanted animals.
PetSmart Charities Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all homeless pets by supporting programs and providing leadership which brings people and pets together. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.