08/11/2024
Hi everyone. I wanted to update you what's going on at the shelter.
I wanted to let you know that we've decided to close down the shelter. We didn't take this decision lightly. It won't be sudden because we've got to find somewhere for all these animals to go. We are shooting for at least 1-2 months. With that being said, INTAKE IS COMPLETELY CLOSED! WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY MORE ANIMALS.
We simply cannot continue fighting the fight in this current situation. We are putting more money into the maintenance, upkeep and bills than care of the animals. This building is too much and is wrong for what we need. It simply doesn't work for the situation. Our light bill alone runs $700 a month. We just had to add a second ac unit so there's no telling just how big the next bill will be. I don't even want to open the envelope.
We can't keep workers here. They either work a shift and never show back up, or don't show up at all. Because of the way we have to do things, it's too hard on people. It's hot, it's loud, nasty and it stinks. We have worked our few dedicated workers to the bone, and yet, we still cannot get everything done. They are exhausted.
We don't have enough help searching for grants, working social media, taking photos, attending supervisor and town meetings, holding events, fundraising, keeping the schedule up, and keeping everything on task. Our lives, our families, our jobs and our health have suffered, and we simply cannot keep going with just us three. I have begged on facebook numerous times for help. A few will offer to help, and some actually do, but most of the time its a one time thing or never at all. After six years of this, we are tired. Us three board members have never received a dime of pay for this as by law we aren't allowed to. We have volunteered 20-40 hours a week every week. We didn't do it for the money, but it is a full time job. Others simply don't want to dedicate many hours a week volunteering to keep this place going.
There is such an animal crisis that we cannot get help adopting these animals or enough rescue help to move them up north. I have spent countless hours up at all hours of the night reaching out to rescues. We've had dogs here for a year that came in when they were 5 weeks old. They are still here. Some have never had one person show any interest in them. What are we to do with that? We have to look at these pitiful faces looking through a kennel fence just wanted to be petted and loved. We have to sleep at night knowing they need to be euthanized, but its just too hard to do that because we feel WE failed them. I know in my head it wasn't us, it was their owners, but that doesn't help my heart. All this has taken a toll on my health and mental health.
I am reaching out to everyone I know in the industry to see if they can help, or put me in touch with your rescues - anything to help. And we have a lot! We currently have 56 dogs and 17 cats in our care. Eight of those dogs are going to a rescue.
I do want to thank each and every one of you who have volunteered, donated, adopted, give us discounts, run errands, worked, got this place up and running, cut our grass (which it needs it again right now) shared our posts, stood up for us, or anything else you have done for us. We are truly grateful for every way this community has supported us in 6 years. To Ashley Bentley and her crew at Clarke County Animal Clinic, they has done more for us than any of you could imagine. They have been right here with us every step of the way. I know sometimes she gets tired of seeing us pulling up in the driveway. We could not have done it without you all! There's so many I could thank, but I don't want to overlook someone.
Where do we go from here? I don't have an answer on that yet. We approached the Board of Supervisors and they WILL NOT take the responsibility of a county pound which is what is needed with full time help. Even though we tell them time and time again just how bad the problem is, they just don't realize - but they soon will. A one mil tax raise would help fund a county pound.
I just have to trust something excellent will come up in our next chapter. We aren't closing the book just yet - but rather stepping back, taking a breath, and finding change. We are praying a miracle will happen and we can get a proper shelter.
Please don't let this stop you from donating or volunteering. We still have to care for these babies until they are all gone. Please, if you are thinking about getting a new pet, please look in our animals for adoption folder and come adopt.
Thank you,
Jennifer Bozeman
President/Co-founder of Creature Comforts
Ps if you're interested in our property, please call Jeff Arrington 601-917-7356 or Steve Neely 601-479-2234.
