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Animal shelter construction to finally begin

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By Correne Martin

The Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter movement has big news to share. After more than nine years of fundraising, the organization plans to start construction on its long-awaited physical facility on Nov. 1. Its board of directors approved a contract with Top Notch Construction to build the animal shelter behind Country Inn and Suites, contingent on plan commission approval tonight (Monday), Sept. 19.

RABAS President Cheryl Statz expressed how ecstatic the entity is to have hit this goal. “We had tears at the meeting last night from people who’ve thought they may never see this happen,” she said. “We’ve put in a lot of hard work. We are totally psyched this is going to happen.”

At the end of August, RABAS and the city announced a land swap through which the city would provide 3.4 acres of property in its business park in exchange for 2 acres of land on Campion Boulevard—land that was donated to the animal shelter by Steve and Lynda Welter several years ago.

“We saw this as a win-win situation,” Statz said. “1) We were getting more land. 2) We had a couple residents near our former location who were concerned about having an animal shelter in their neighborhood. So this solves those concerns. And, 3) the city was willing to make a $15,000 donation to us, so long as we negotiate, within one year, plans to build and operate a dog park in the new location.”

RABAS discussed the land trade with the Welters prior to making a proposed agreement and Steve said “we should do whatever was best for us.”

“We are eternally grateful to [Steve and Lynda] for donating the land,” she commented.

If the Prairie du Chien plan commission approves the swap after its conditional use hearing, ground will be broken and the shell of the shelter will start taking shape, hopefully before too much snow flies.

Rivers and Bluffs has between $315,000 and $320,000 in an account, ready to cover the cost of building the exterior. Statz said none of the interior will be done until further fundraising is executed.

“We need to gather more money to finish the shelter and have a year’s worth of operating expenses,” she noted. “If all goes well, and we start construction Nov. 1, we will start a capital fundraising campaign, probably in December, for three months.”

Statz added that, once the shell of the shelter is built, RABAS hopes more donations will roll in, moving the idea of the shelter much closer to reality. “Every little bit helps,” she said.

The need for an animal shelter in the Prairie du Chien area continues to be “incredibly desperate,” according to Statz.

She said, right now, the way stray animals are housed at Crawford County Animal Control Officer Crisse Reynolds’ own home and adopted out is something RABAS looks forward to helping improve.

“We will go through a more rigorous process of adopting animals so we can make sure they are going to good forever homes,” she stated.

The new shelter will have enough space to accommodate 21 dogs, plus four in isolation, and 48 cats, plus eight in isolation. RABAS will have agreements with both veterinarian offices in Prairie du Chien to conduct animal assessments. There, of course, will be costs associated with adoptions, to help cover the expenses RABAS incurs while caring for the animals.

It will also be a no-kill shelter, which means dogs and cats will not be euthanized for lack of space and only considered in situations of extreme behavioral issues.

“We still need to work out agreements with other shelters and rescue groups in the region who may be able to help take our overflow,” Statz pointed out.

RABAS will employ one to two paid workers. However, the board hopes to secure numerous volunteers from school groups, the prison, retirees and possibly students attending veterinary school.

The public will have a number of opportunities to donate to RABAS at upcoming activities held by the organization. Oct. 1 and 2, volunteers will host a food stand at Apple Fest at Shihata’s Orchard. On Oct. 15, they will be at the Oktoberfest parade and involved in the canine costume contest on St. Feriole Island, selling dog treats, tugs, and chances to cast votes for favorite animal costumes.

Also, RABAS is always looking for new volunteers and board members. “If this is something you’d like to invest your time in, please contact us, and we will put you to work,” Statz pleaded. “We could use expertise in business, fundraising, finance and planned giving.”

As fundraising continues, so will public awareness efforts. “We really want to focus on the education aspect with residents in addition to having the physical shelter,” she explained. “The importance of spaying and neutering is so great.”

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