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Mark Hurte, executive director of the Central Kentucky Regional Humane Society, holds Moses, an 8-month-old dog who continues to nip and play. The shelter, which has a no-kill policy, is hoping to raise enough money to build a fence around the property. (Lindsay Kriz / June 8, 2012) |
LANCASTER — Nestled inside a building located on one of Lancaster’s main streets, dozens of dogs and cats wait for the right person to come and adopt them.
But until then, they’re under the care of Mark Hurte, the executive director of the Central Kentucky Regional Humane Society. According to Hurte, the humane society is a no-kill facility, meaning the animals taken in will not be euthanized. However, before the animals can be taken in, they must be checked for the proper shots and must be spayed or neutered.
The facility is also an owner-surrender facility, which means lost or stray dogs usually aren’t taken in unless they fit the necessary criteria.
Since January 2010, the shelter has adopted out and saved 652 animals.
The organization recently received a $20,000 grant for spaying and neutering assistance. The money goes toward vouchers, enabling anyone who can make their way to the central Kentucky region to pay $35 for the spay or neutering appointment.
The humane society will give the customer the voucher, and the customer can take it to any of the area veterinarians the grant allows.
Counties included are Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln, Casey and Madison. The voucher allows for five dogs per household, and one to two veterinarians per county.
The shelter, which is strictly grant- and donation-oriented, also has received $500 from the city of Lancaster and $1,000 from the cattlemen’s association to provide fencing around the premises so the animals have a place to play and exercise.
The estimated price for fencing the entire area is $7,000. The $1,500 received so far is going toward building horse farm fencing in front of the building. The remaining $5,500 to be raised will fence in the back.
“If we can hurry up and get the $5,500 rest of the money raised, then it will allow us to let them run and play and jump, and we can do more obedience training back there,” Hurte said.
Any donations to the shelter are tax-deductible, and money orders can be mailed to P.O. Box 875, Lancaster, KY 40444; can be made by a check; or can be made directly by Visa or American Express card.
