Illinois State Representative Tim Butler tours Humane Society of Logan County


 

[March 25, 2019] 

LINCOLN 

During the noon hour on Friday, State Representative Tim Butler and a member of his office staff, Rachel Schmock, paid a visit to the Humane Society of Logan County animal Shelter.

Butler was greeted by HSLC Board President Ellen Burbage, Shelter Director Mary Dowdle, shelter volunteers Sue Jones and Wanda Stephens, and also Morgan Gleason and Kaylee Kirby of the Logan County Tourism Bureau who had been invited by HSLC volunteer Marilyn Wheat.

Representative Butler said that he had never visited the HSLC and earlier in the week noted he would have time on his Friday schedule to make a stop somewhere and decided the shelter would be a good place to visit. He said that he admires the work of no kill shelters such as the HSLC and noted that he has a cat at home named Butterscotch that came from the no kill shelter in Springfield.

Butler spent the majority of his time with the cats, saying that they are his preference over dogs. The cats were obviously aware that he was compassionate toward them, and they smothered him with attention as Dowdle took him from room to room visiting the felines.

Dowdle and the volunteers know the history of each animal in the shelter, and Butler enjoyed hearing about the animals.

He was surprised by the good health and friendliness of two cats in particular, brother and sister, and both about 15 years old.

The chance to lay hands on the purring babies was contagious, and Butler visited room to room, his staff member Rachel and Tourism Bureau Director Morgan couldn’t resist laying hands on a few of the cats.

Butler also visited the dogs at the back of the shelter, but back there, it was business as usual for volunteer Wanda Stephens who was showing off the dogs to a prospective parent. Rather than interfere with that process, Butler stayed in the back room only a minute or two then exited so the adoptive parent could get to know the animals without a bunch of people looking on.

HSLC volunteer Wanda Stephens, Butler, and Dowdle

Back up front, Butler talked with volunteers, Burbage and Dowdle about how the shelter is run and funded. Burbage shared that the shelter receives no government support, neither state nor local, and depends on donations and fundraisers to raise approximately $80,000 per year to keep the shelter running. The shelter also depends heavily on volunteers who give hours and hours to the animals expecting nothing in return.

Within the organization the only paid employee at the shelter is Dowdle. Everyone else donates their time to care for the animals - feed, then clean litter boxes and stalls, and provide socialization for the animals.

Speaking of fundraising, it was mentioned that the HSLC breakfast is coming up in April. The breakfast on Sunday April 14th is a partnership fundraiser with the Sons of the American Legion/Legion Baseball. Tickets are on sale now at the HSLC and from HSLC volunteers. The way the partnership fundraiser works, the HSLC makes money only on the tickets they sell in advance of the breakfast. Tickets sold at the door on that Sunday morning, all the proceeds go to the Legion side of the fundraiser.

Butler said he thought there was a pretty good chance he already had something on his calendar that day, but he decided to go ahead and buy his ticket to the breakfast just in case. Dowdle was happy to oblige.

The fundraiser will also feature a bake sale, which historically includes a very large number of home baked pies. The bake sale items are donated by HSLC volunteers and board members, and all of those proceeds will go directly to HSLC. In addition, the pies go early. Often by halfway through the morning the bake sale items are nearly depleted. For those who are planning to attend the event, be sure to bring that cash and check out the bake sale sooner rather than later.

As he was preparing to leave on Friday afternoon, Butler was asked if there was anything going on in Springfield that the HSLC needed to be aware of. He said at the moment, he didn’t think there was a lot going on that would directly impact the shelter. He also told the group to be sure to communicate with them if they ever felt they needed to have a voice in Springfield.

He noted that he has a fondness for Lincoln and had lived in the community for a while and he also has a fondness and a lot of respect for the work that the HSLC is doing for local animals as well as families. If he has the ability to help them, he will certainly try.

The animals at the HSLC are there based on two scenarios for the most part. They have been voluntarily brought in by an owner who for whatever reason is no longer able to care for the animal and wants the animal to have a second chance at a good life, or they are removed from an abusive home. The shelter cannot take strays.

All the animals receive a health check and are spayed or neutered as needed to help. Adoptive families fill out an application for the animal and meet with volunteers to discuss their ability to care for the animal. The applicant also pays a fee to the humane society that helps cover the cost of medical services.

The shelter is always looking for volunteers to work at the facility and do provide the training for volunteers. They are also always seeking “foster parents” who will take animals into their home for one-on-one love and care on a temporary basis.

Finally, the shelter maintains a ‘Fetch list’ of items they need every day that anyone can pick up at their weekly trip to the store. You can check out the list on the HSLC website. They are all items that are simple to grab and easy to transport to the HSLC such as paper towels, laundry detergent, dish soap, garbage bags, and of course, dog and cat food.

Visit the website here - https://hslclincoln. org/

The April 14th breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the American Legion Post 263 in Lincoln. Tickets may be purchased at the HSLC shelter office, 1801 East Lincoln Pkwy, Lincoln. Shelter hours are Tuesday through Friday - Noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

[Nila Smith]