LAKEPORT — Animal Care and Control Program Manager Paula Werner received a gift when she opened the mail last June 30 — a check for $20,000 from generous donors who wish to remain anonymous.
Werner said she was contacted by phone in March and informed they were on a list of 10 or so possible recipients of the donation. They were informed they had been chosen to receive the donation by the end of April and in mid-July they began to order the needed items.
They received the shipment of new cat cages just last week, according to Werner. “I”m not much of a shopper and I”ll tell you what … I”ve never had so much fun shopping in my life.”
Werner added that the donation was mostly spent all in one day when the funds were released from the bank.
Why would the benefactors wish to remain anonymous? Werner said they are not donating the money for the recognition that comes with it; they are simply thankful and this donation came as an indirect result of an adoption Animal Care and Control performed last summer with a couple from the Bay Area.
The donors saw the condition of the shelter and wanted to help make things better for the animals now, according to Werner, instead of waiting to donate to the new shelter.
The current shelter in Lakeport serves all of Lake County and can house up to 36 dogs and 63 cats and has additional areas for livestock, such as horses, goats and sheep, as well as a bird pen.
The needed items purchased with the donation include 13 cat cages, five outside dog kennels with roofs, 150 food bowls and water buckets for the cats and 60 for the dogs, 55 dog beds, new litter boxes for the cats and kittens, shade cloths for the outside dog kennels and large tarps for the livestock area.
Werner said the donation came with one stipulation: “They would like us to acknowledge their pets at the shelter, including the one they adopted from us.”
Despite this generous donation, the animal shelter is still in need of various items, such as livestock fencing, a portable storage shed with a floor, a grooming table and a grooming kit.
Animal Care and Control will accept both monetary donations and nonmonetary donations such as blankets, toys and dog and cat food.
For questions or contributions to the animal shelter the community may call Lake County Animal Services at 549-3507 or donations may also be made at the Kelseyville, Lakeport and Upper Lake branches of Westamerica Bank.
Contact Cynthia Davis at cdavis@record-bee.com.
