Why we need a new shelter
Better Design
Better Volunteer Opportunities
Better Environment
Our current shelter was built over 30 years ago. Animal welfare practices have evolved over time. Overcrowding and our outdated kennel and shelter design, creates a situation where the shelter itself is causing stress to the animals. We sheltered over 1,000 animals in 2023 alone. The wear and tear on the existing building has reached a point where we need to invest in a better future.
Better Environment
Better Volunteer Opportunities
Better Environment
Chipping paint, rusting metal fencing, a failing plumbing and septic system, inadequate space and lack of functional resources hinders the staff’s daily efforts. We need a shelter that is designed specifically to handle the health and well being of animals in our care. Our new shelter will be designed to provide a better environment for the animals, our staff and visitors.
Better Volunteer Opportunities
Better Volunteer Opportunities
Better Volunteer Opportunities
Our lack of space and the challenging landscape of our existing property, make it very difficult to accept on site volunteers. We lack a designated area for potential adopters to meet shelter pets, which makes it challenging to facilitate adoptions. Our new shelter design will resolve these challenges and allow us to have a more robust volunteer program.
Thank you!
We would like to take a moment to thank everyone that made it to our Ground-breaking Ceremony, whether in person or from afar. It certainly was a gorgeous day for a ground-breaking and we appreciate all of the people who took the time to come out and celebrate the occasion by our side.
We have many to thank and at the top of the list is Dana and Brenda Dunbar. Thank you for your generosity in donating the land. We are so grateful for this opportunity to build a new shelter. We also thank engineer Ron Burcham, for all his work helping to layout the site, Greg Flynn of Flynn and Sons Trucking for the initial clearing of a spot for the ceremony. Johnny’sSigns for the sign marking the new location. Thanks to our photographer Luiza Kleina for all the great pictures of the day. Bedford Chamber of Commerce (Sally Miller), Mitchell Chamber of Commerce (Don Caudell and Toya Lamm). Bedford Times Mail (Garet Cobb), radio station WBED Fun 90.1 (Shannon and Deb), media coverage by 1340 WBIW AM (Rebekah Mathis) and Lawrence County Zephyr (Bill Raines). We appreciate Hillcrest Christian Church for the use of their bus and driver Kurt Stailey, along with the Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford for the use of their van and driver Rick Mitchell for transportation to and from our new site. Thanks to Olivia Faubion for passing out flyers and pens at the ceremony. Thanks to Bruce Megnin and Kevin Stailey for the endless hours on the finishing touches. Thank you Speedway Gas Station for graciously letting our supporters park in your lot and to Bob and Micheal Daggy for making sure everyone had room to park and safely got on the transport vehicles.Thank you to ALL of our supporters and donors, Board Members and White River Humane Society Staff. Together, we can create a brighter future for our four-legged friends and a better place for animals in need.
