The Lynchburg Humane Society is gaining ground in its efforts to construct a new state-of-the-art animal shelter.
The humane society, which is working its way through an ambitious five-year plan, has entered into a contract for a 9.6-acre plot of land at the corner of Graves Mill Road and Old Graves Mill Road.
The sale is contingent on the property being rezoned to allow for a shelter. The property, part of a larger parcel owned by the Schenkel family, is currently zoned for residential use.
The humane society applied for a rezoning earlier this week. Its request is tentatively scheduled to go to City Council in September.
Makena Yarbrough, executive director of the humane society, said they?re envisioning a larger and more modern facility that will offer amenities such as a children?s education center, a pet training center and an on-site animal clinic.
The plans also call for indoor climate-controlled dog kennels and group rooms for cats that will give them more space and freedom. The entire building could reach more than 19,000 square feet in size ? more than 2.5 times the size of the current shelter located behind City Stadium on Naval Reserve Road.
The facility plans are still under design and subject to change. If the rezoning request is approved, Yarbrough said they would finalize the purchase of the property and launch a capital campaign to raise money for construction.
The humane society is seeking donations to help pay for the land. Yarbrough said they need to pay $340,000 at the time of the sale?s settlement, most of which has already been raised through charitable contributions, although some additional funds are still needed.
?We?re really excited,? Yarbrough said. ?We want to build a shelter that will be a destination for people all over the area to come and adopt pets or volunteer or just to visit ? I think certainly the animals deserve it, and the people do, too.?
Yarbrough said a new facility would allow the humane society to provide more comfortable living conditions for animals and a more inviting atmosphere for prospective pet owners.
?Right now, it?s difficult for the public to come in and look around,? she said. ?? The current facility just isn?t what we need it to be to reach the next plateau of becoming a no-kill shelter. So having a new place will be vital for us.?
The humane society, which had close to a 50 percent euthanization rate in 2008, has made it a goal to become a no-kill shelter by 2015.
Yarbrough said they?d already reached a 92 percent ?save rate? during the first six months of this year, which she attributed to growing public support in the form of more adoptions, more volunteers willing to foster animals who need extra care and more donations coming in, which allows the shelter to care for more pets at one time.
?We?re actually doing really, really well,? she said. ?But I hold my breath because we are coming up on kitten season, which is a busy time. But so far, so good. The community has been very helpful and supportive of us. I think how quickly we?re reaching our goal says a lot. It says the community was ready for this.?
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BARK IN THE PARK
Hillcats fans can gain free admission to Sunday?s game as part of the annual ?Bark in the Park? event.
The Hillcats will give away free tickets in exchange for donations of dog and cat food for the Lynchburg Humane Society. Donations should be presented at the ballpark at the time of admission. One ticket will be given for every bag of food contributed. Dye-free food is requested.
In addition, former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox will be in attendance Sunday, and the Hillcats will be auctioning off baseballs with his autograph to benefit the humane society.
Bark in the Park, presented by WLNI, also encourages pet owners to bring their dogs out to enjoy the game; a pet parade will be held at 5:30 p.m. to showcase the canines in the stands.
Sunday?s game starts at 6:05 p.m. The Hillcats will be facing off with the Potomac Nationals.
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