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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.
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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]
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