AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR
FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
Dear Friends,
Your Columbia Humane Society is in a financial crisis. Our income has been dramatically
less and our expenses extensively more in 2007 than any time in recent history. We have not
recovered financially from the outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis last year that led
to the closure of the cattery for several weeks. With the cattery closed there were no adoption
fees and no relinquish fees coming in. On top of that, we were forced to spend over $10,000
on new cages that would keep litter contained in each cage and hopefully stop the spread of
disease. Happily, that worked and the cattery is now open with healthy cats.
The Board of Directors has worked hard over the last two years to raise funds and to cut costs
to the absolute bare minimum to keep the shelter operating. We take the care of the animals
entrusted to us and our service to the community VERY seriously.
As you know, we are the only no-kill shelter in the area. We help protect the animals of
Columbia County and help the people of the county with their animal-related needs. Even with
the number of dedicated volunteers we have, the costs of running the shelter are more than the
money we take in every month. We have to draw on our reserves monthly and those reserves will
not last much longer. As most of you know, we receive no funding from any government agency but
derive our total income from donations, adoption and relinquish fees, as well as the sale of
food and animal-related items. We do apply for and receive some grants for such things as
spay/neuter costs but this can only be used for that purpose and not for operational expenses.
In the past you have been a friend of CHS. We come to you with hat in hand. It will take
$20,000 just to get us through 2007. Please consider sending a generous donation today, and
ask your friends, relatives, and neighbors to do the same. If something is not done VERY SOON
all of these wonderful animals that we care for so lovingly will have to be sent elsewhere and
there will be no one in Columbia County to take them in.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW.
AS YOU ARE READING THIS, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS WORKING ON A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR CLOSING
THIS WONDERFUL SHELTER THAT HAS BEEN SERVING COLUMBIA COUNTY SINCE 1985. PLEASE HELP US AVOID
THAT TRAGEDY. BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE ALSO WORKING CONTINUALLY TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO RAISE
FUNDS AND TO CUT COSTS.
Sincerely,
Columbia Humane Society Board of Directors
