County animal shelter joins online fundraising effort

The Humane Society of Young County is one of over 500 animal welfare organizations across the country which are requesting support in the month of August through the online effort Clear the Shelters. Shelters could also receive weekly matching funds given during the fundraising event.

The fundraising campaign online at clearthesheltersfund.org will be held until Thursday, Aug. 31. The online fundraiser allows direct donations to support registered shelters and weekly prizes funds could provide matching funds for shelters.

Clear the Shelters is an annual, nationwide pet adoption campaign which is spearheaded by NBCUniversal Local. Every year, the company’s stations, along with affiliated stations, partner with animal shelters and rescues in their communities to promote pet adoption and raise needed funds.

“Currently, many animal shelters and rescues across the country continue to face economic hardships and major pet overpopulation issues. Donations like the ones made through the Clear the Shelters Fund help struggling animal welfare organizations to properly take care of the pets in their care,” a press release from the organization states.

During the first week, matching funds will be presented for the first $25,000 in donations to the Clear the Shelters Fund. The match opened at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 and will expire after $25,000 has been hit. This will serve as the matching pool for the entire campaign.

HSYC is the only open intake shelter in the county and receives no national or state funding, according to the organization. A total of 74% of the operating funds are from fundraising and public donations.

HSYC Director Shelby Brogdon said the organization is working hard to complete a new dog quarantine area, which will be named in memory of Niko, a Dogo Argentino dog who was surrendered to the shelter in March and passed away.

“This building will house dogs taken in from cruelty and neglect seizure cases that must be held for trial. It will be used to hold dogs that are on medical or behavior hold and not able to go into our general dog population for health or safety reasons,” Brodgon said. “We’ve already had three cases where this area was used—even though it wasn’t quite ready. Funding will help us purchase the kennels needed to finish out this area of the shelter. Our shelter is operating above capacity and has been for months. Donations are always spread thin in the summer months, and this one is especially difficult.”