My goal in life is to become as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am! ~author unknown
03/21/2025
Animal Shelter Update!
It’s a long read, but we are posting for transparency sake. Below is a timeline of this entire project so everyone can be informed of our progress/lack thereof.
Spring 2024 - we applied for ARPA funding under our sister rescue BARC. We were told this could not be awarded as BARC initiated in Boone County, not Lincoln. To note, BARC had rescued animals in Lincoln County for ten years at this point.
May 2024 - we decided to form our own non profit. FOALC was born
June 2024 - we reapplied for ARPA funding under FOALC. Amount requested was $50,000 to start a shelter and give us operational funding until we could apply for grants. Per the county commission, funds would only be awarded if we agreed to use the property on Blue Lick in Branchland. We were told we would be given this property. Property is owned by the Lincoln County EDA. Reluctantly, we agreed.
August 2024 - we were awarded $35,000 and advised that for legal reasons we could not be given the property. We agreed to a lease of $100 a month with the EDA.
August 2024 - November 2024 - during this time, the tenant on the property was evicted by the EDA via legal proceedings and a lease was drafted.
November 2024 - our lease was signed. We spent an entire day clearing out all the junk and trash from the property. This was two whole dump truck loads full. Thanks again to Clutter Crushers for all the help!
November/December 2024 - we bought three new doors and windows and paid to have them installed in order to secure the property and keep out unauthorized individuals. We also paid to have the rotted floor fixed and the rotted back deck removed as it was a safety hazard. Total money spent on the property/cleaning it up was $5,257.83. We also started buying supplies during Black Friday deals. We spent $7,901.68 with the majority of that being on kennels. Damages to the property were assessed and quotes received from various local businesses. It was found that to get the house functional, it would cost at minimum $22,000. The house also needs a new roof which would be an additional expense. The EDA was advised and asked to contribute money to fixing up the home as the home remained in their ownership.
End of December - we were advised to stop work on the property as the EDA was uncertain if they wanted to invest any money into it. It was also requested by the county commission that we provide a budget as to how we would pay for ongoing expenses.
January 2025 - a budget was developed which was around $1,000/month. This was mainly due to high insurance costs. We launched our Be In For $10 campaign which was very successful. Thank you again to everyone that has and continues to donate!
Feburary 2025 - we were told that we could no longer lease the property, but that we could buy it for $10,000. We counter offered $5,000. This offer was declined.
March 2025 - The EDA decided that the Blue Lick property would be sold off. The cost to get it functional was too high, and neither them nor us could foot that bill. Though we are sad this didn’t work out, it’s probably for the best as the location was far less than ideal. We will be removing what items we had there by the end of the month and all items will have to be stored at our personal residences. We also will be asking for reimbursement of the $5,257.83 we invested into the property.
Moving forward - we found a metal building company that will install a 30 by 40 foot metal building with insulation for less than $20,000. The EDA owns the land by the 911 center/coon hunters compound in Hamlin and we will be attending their next meeting in May to petition to use part of this land to build on. Of course, if anyone would like to donate some land in the meantime, we wouldn’t turn it down 😉
So, that’s where we stand folks. It’s been a very long, arduous journey and we aren’t much further than we were a year ago. We’ll keep trudging on in hopes that one day our dream will become a reality. Please continue to support us as we continue to rescue/take care of foster pets at our homes. Vet bills, preventative care, and dog food aren’t cheap!
