The meowing of cats, housed in a Cat Condo, rings out in the entrance of the Oconto Area Human Society and Animal Shelter at 150 S. Katch Drive, Oconto.
Above the raucous sound of meows comes the noise of energetic barking from a back hallway, as the dogs let everyone know the cats are not the only tenants looking for a permanent home.
Thousands of animals have passed through the shelter since it opened in 2005. In 2013, the shelter took in 668 animals.
But the shelter is running out of money. Shelter expenses exceed $9,000 a month, including utility costs of $1,100 on average, plus staff wages, medicines and vaccines for the animals, and veterinary fees for state-required medical check-ups.
The shelter takes in about $2,000 in donations monthly and about $2,000 from local municipalities, but operating expenses outpace the revenue.
“We don’t just want to lock the door one day and walk away,” said Jean Fogelberg, OAHS treasurer.
Until a few months ago, the shelter’s leading benefactor picked up the slack, contributing about $30,000 annually. With that funding source gone, shelter leaders are looking for new revenue.
In August, the shelter sent letters to 800 businesses in Oconto County requesting financial assistance.
“We’ve gotten a nice response from the community, but what we’re looking for and what we need are sustaining donors,” Fogelberg said.
Local municipalities were also approached for funding. A letter was presented to the Oconto Falls City Council on Sept. 8.
“I’m afraid if they closed down we’ll have lots of strays dropped off here in town,” said Alderman Jay Kostreva, who encouraged the Finance Committee to set aside funds in the next budget for the shelter.
“I volunteer down there, and I didn’t realize the kind of service they give,” he said.
On Wednesday, shelter representatives sought funding from the Oconto County Finance Committee, which is developing the 2015 budget due to be presented Oct. 30 to the County Board.
Kevin Hamann, Oconto County administrative coordinator, said budget requests from department heads are “$1.4 million over what we can afford.” Yet he did not rule out a service contract and appropriation for the animal shelter, saying the shelter provides a valuable service for the county.
Transporting animals to an agency in Brown County might be an option, but it would be costly and time consuming for county employees, he said.
Shelter director Jessica Beaumia said finding a home for the animals in Brown County might not be easy.
“They have a huge area they’re covering, and to take on all of Oconto County’s strays would be a huge burden on them,” she said. “I don’t even know if that’s something … they’d be willing to do.”
She said it’s hard enough for people to bring their strays to the shelter in Oconto. They might be less inclined to take them even farther away.
When the news went public last month of the shelter’s potential closure, the shelter took in a record number of animals. Its cat population increased to 80.
If the shelter were to close, the community wouldn’t realize how much it was needed until it’s too late, Beaumia warned.
“I know it’s the money that keeps it going, but it’s the humanity of it all that is part of it, too,” Fogelberg said.
Kathy Campshure, president of the board of the Oconto Area Humane Society, said the shelter has enough to cover expenses for the remainder of 2014, but beyond that is questionable.
“Ideally, someone remembers us in their will or their trust. That has happened a couple of times since we opened, and it’s another reason why we are still open and operating,” she said.
Although she wants people to be aware of the option, donations are needed now.
“Why wait until you die to donate, when you can donate now and see it put to good use,” she said.
“We’re thrilled to death if someone sends us a check for $10, but that doesn’t support this kind of need,” Fogelberg said.
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