LAHARPE — Julie Payne has found herself increasingly in the role of busting myths.
Yes, the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility continues to scrape by, even with a budget besieged by ever-increasing costs to house up to 50 dogs and 25 cats.
“It shocks people to see how much our monthly expenses are,” said Payne, ACARF treasurer.
She estimated the organization brings in roughly $5,000 a month through individual donations, while expenses cost about $20,000 monthly.
“It’s expensive,” she said, to cover vet bills, medicine, food, supplies, property insurance and utilities, much less hire staffers to handle some of the shelter’s more unseemly duties.
“People say we should bring in more volunteers,” Payne said. “Well, people aren’t going to volunteer to scoop up poop in 95-degree weather. The volunteers are the ones who want to come out and play with the animals.
“And the reality is, you’re not going to get many people willing to do this for $7 an hour,” Payne continued. “They have to be paid well.”
ACARF is hosting its next fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Iola’s New Community Building at Riverside Park. Chicken Annie’s of Girard is catering the meal.
Pre-orders are being accepted through Sept. 1, to ensure organizers have enough food on hand.
To take part, call (620) 496-2228 or (620) 365-0600.
As for the myth-busting, Payne said she has heard from multiple sources that they’ve been hesitant to donate to ACARF because of a recent trust set up in the name of Herschel and Barbara Perry that covers spaying and neutering costs for Allen County pet owners seeking to have their animals fixed.
ACARF serves as an administrator for the Perry Trust Fund, doling out funds for Allen Countians taking advantage of the service, Payne said, “but we don’t see a dime of it.”
In fact, ACARF is prohibited from even using Perry Trust funds to spay or neuter animals it takes in.
The money is available only to Allen County residents. “We just hand out the checks. People hear about the Perry Trust and think we have tons of money lying around. We don’t. We desperately need operating money.”
ACARF is open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
