Humane society seeks reprieve

SANDPOINT — Chuck Driggs counts cadence with cats.

Trapping cats requires timing, the Sagle resident said. The best time to catch the feral felines is early in the morning because that is when they are accustomed to being fed.

Driggs has been trapping cats in a Ponderay neighborhood that is overrun by feral kitties.

The cats have been there for years, he said, being fed and becoming a nuisance.

In an effort to prevent them from spreading diseases to domestic pets, and from breeding, Driggs traps the animals in enclosures that don’t harm them and he transports the cats to the Bonner Humane Society to be vaccinated and spayed or neutered.

The problem with this scenario is money.

Bonner Humane Society is out of cash and may close its doors.

It is not the first time the society has faced being shuttered.

Dwindling grants and donations forced the society to close its doors a year ago after offering discounted spay, neuter and vaccination services for 20 years.

Private donations allowed the doors to re-open in August 2009 but the money could not ensure the society’s long-term survival.

Robert Kellerman, treasurer of Bonner Humane Society board, reported this week that although the non-profit organization is still alive, it is not receiving enough community support to continue operations indefinitely.

The board plans a July 18 fundraiser and has applied for several grants, but the organization needs continual long-term support to ensure its viability, Kellerman said.

“Without a regular source of funding, we would need to charge as much as the other vets in town in order to meet expenses,” he said. “If we cannot garner necessary support to meet our mission and meet expenses it will be time to close for good.”

Sandpoint resident Penny Burch gets many of her pets from the local animal shelter. She takes them to the Humane Society for vaccinations and check ups because it costs less than regular clinics, she said.

She had Dr. Eileen Kellner, the resident veterinarian, make a house call to euthanize her lab.

“I called her in desperation,” she said.

If the society closes, she said, it will impact many pet owners who cannot afford regular services.

The ripple effect will be felt at the Panhandle Animal Shelter in Ponderay.

The shelter uses services from the humane society.

“They offer us a low-cost spay and neuter for shelter animals,” Ryan Thraikill, manager of operation said. “They provide an important service to us and the community.”

In its effort to stay open, the humane society board is looking for a person with close ties to the community to develop a philanthropy program and continue pursuing grants and donations, Patti Fulton, BHS office manager said.

“We want to continue our mission to be a vet clinic and help people at low cost,” Fulton said.