The Newnan-Coweta Humane Society In Georgia Looks To Build A "No Kill" Shelter: Needs $50,000 Grant To Move Closer To That Goal

As stated below, they need $10 votes to get the grant. To vote for the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society, go to www.networkforgood.org . Near the top of the home page is a green rectangle with the word "donate" in it. Click on that box.

Article:

Humane society needs $10 votes for $50,000 grant

Published 1/28/08 in The Times-Herald

http://times-herald.com/

By W. WINSTON SKINNER

winston@newnan.com

The Newnan-Coweta Humane Society would like to operate a "no kill" shelter, and volunteers are hoping to get a $50,000 grant to move closer to that goal.

The society is only about 60 "votes" — at $10 each — from getting the grant. "We can do this. I know we can," said LouAnn Jones, NCHS vice president.

Most animal shelters — including the Coweta County animal shelter — euthanize animals after keeping them for a certain period of time. No kill shelters do not euthanize animals, and their costs for feeding, shelter and medicine are therefore higher than other shelters.

The society would also like to sponsor a spay/neuter clinic in Coweta County. The clinic and shelter would be "at one location," Jones said.

The society is hoping to get a $50,000 grant through the Network for Good/America's Giving Challenge program to get the facility started. People "vote" for the charity of choice on the Network for Good Web site. A vote requires a donation of $10 or more.

The vote is based on the number of people who contribute $10 or more to a specified charity. The top four U.S. groups and the top four international groups will get $50,000 each from the America's Giving Challenge project. The deadline to contribute is this Thursday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.

On Friday evening, the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society was in fifth place with 697 donations. "We are hanging precariously at number five," Jones said.

Ahead of the society were the Bubel-Aiken Foundation, a Raleigh, N.C. group that helps special needs children, 755 votes; the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, a Eugene, Ore. organization seeking a cure and treatment for Fanconi anemia, 1,096 votes; A Place To Bark, a no kill shelter in Portland, Tenn., 1,245 votes; and 11th Hour Animal Rescue, a no kill shelter in Rockaway, N.J., 1,390 votes.

To vote for the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society, go to www.networkforgood.org . Near the top of the home page is a green rectangle with the word "donate" in it. Click on that box.

When the next page appears, "find any charity" will be near the top of the page. Type "Newnan-Coweta Humane Society" under "Charity Name" and then click the orange "search" box. When the next page appears, click the green "donate now" icon and follow the directions for donating online.

The "America's Giving Challenge," which began Dec. 31 is jointly sponsored by Parade Magazine, Network for Good, the Case Foundation and SixDegrees.org .

Network for Good brings together donors, volunteers and charities online. The non-profit was founded in November 2001. Steve and Jean Case, excecutives with America OnLine, founded the Case Foundation in 1997 "to reflect their family's heartfelt commitment to finding lasting solutions to complex social challenges," according to the group's Web site. The foundation has its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

SixDegrees.org was founded by entertainer Kevin Bacon.

Jones said she hopes a local no kill shelter can be up and running within six months. She said the society will continue to work closely with the county's animal control program.

She said Fayette County now has a no kill program. County workers deal with animal cruelty cases and pick up strays, and the humane society there handles animals turned in by owners. "We definitely will continue a strong partnership with animal control," Jones said.

The society has already been awarded a grant that will cover rent for the shelter. The America' Giving Challenge would give NCHS funds to move ahead with the no kill shelter effort. Kennels, vaccines and supplies will have to be purchased.

The society already has partnerships locally that will provide pet food and veterinary care. "It's all about working as a team," Jones said.

She said the group's volunteers have worked hard to help get the $50,000 grant for the society. "We could not be any more proud of our volunteers," she said.

Now NCHS members are hoping the community will help push them into the winner's circle. Local caterer Jennifer Hanna, who is an enthusiastic NCHS supporter, said she hopes Coweta County's residents will come through.

"We absolutely need to be a no kill shelter," Hanna said. "We need to win this thing."