Friday, Nov. 02, 2012
Animal shelter plans open house
Harrisonville Animal Control invites public to learn about services
By Bethany Bashioum
bbashioum@demo-mo.com
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ReprintThe Harrisonville Animal Shelter is a home away from home for missing and stray pets.
The shelter, located 1300 Clearwarter Dr., is inviting the public to attend an Open House Saturday, Nov. 3, to learn more about the services they provide.
“We’re trying to get more public awareness because there are people who have lived in town for years and don’t know we have an animal shelter here,” Chief of Animal Control Kristi Osborn said.
Osborn is working with a group of students enrolled in a management course at the University of Central Missouri’s Summit Center in Lee’s Summit, who are organizing and promoting the event.
UCM junior Amber Jaynes, Harrisonville, said her class assignment was to do a service project for a not-for-profit organization.
“We wanted to do the open house because I thought it would be a good idea to get people to actually come to the shelter and to see what they do,” Jaynes said. “I thought they needed a little bit of help publicizing because not many people know that they’re out there.”
One of Jaynes’ close friends is employed at the shelter, and that is how she became familiar with the variety of services the shelter provides.
During Saturday’s open house, visitors will have the opportunity to meet dogs and cats available for adoption, and learn about spaying/neutering and microchip services available. Tours and refreshments will be provided, and visitors will have the chance to enter a raffle to win prizes donated by area businesses. The staff also have games and activities planned for children.
People will also be able to drop off aluminum pop cans for the shelter’s ongoing “Cans for Collars” fundraising program.
Jaynes and her classmates have planned a “Best Legs” contests for the animals of the shelter, and attendees can cast their vote for their favorite by using their loose change.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Osborn, who has been with the shelter for 15 years.
Osborn is passionate about caring for animals, and serves as a member of the Missouri Animal Control Association, where she served on the board for 10 years up until September, and vice president for the last four of those years.
Osborn said adoption is a large part of what they do at the shelter, and other half of their time is getting dogs home.
“We keep them here to give owners chance to find them,” she said.
Stray pets are kept for five days, and owned dogs are kept for 10 days before they become available for adoption.
The shelter employs four staff members and relies on several volunteers.
ADOPTIONS:
Female cats $65
Male cats $50-55
Male dogs$65
Female dogs $75-85.
Cost includes spaying/neutering, rabies and distemper shots, added microchip with registration prepay, and treatment for worms/fleas if needed. Adult dogs are also tested heartworm.
