The Lakeland Humane Society has one huge goal for 2017, start work on a brand new shelter.
“That’s actually been a priority for the last few years,” explains Shelter Manager Kathy Oliffe-Webster. “As time goes on and the conditions  around deteriorate that it becomes more and more important. For example we have our dog barn, it’s getting worse and and worse. It’s getting to the point where we can’t fix it anymore. We really need to do something about that. The push is on to build a new shelter. We’re hoping against hope that maybe we can start by the end of the year, but that just depends on how much money we can raise and circumstances. But that’s our goal.”
The Society is hoping their biggest fundraiser of the year on February 11th will help cover some of the estimated 2-million dollar price tag the new shelter is estimated at. “Paw Prints in the Snow is our annual gala. Our gala is our one event of the year where every penny  we get goes towards the new shelter. Other fundraisers go to maintenance and keeping us going and anything left over goes towards the capital account, but the gala is all for the shelter. We’re trying to sell tickets, for some reason it’s been slow this year. They’re available here at the shelter. They’re 65 dollars each. A table of eight is 500. We need to get going and start selling some tickets.”
While the shelter will receive some financing once the new shelter is ready to begin construction, Oliffe-Webster says it’s best to have as much money up front as possible.