A Jackson County volunteer group hosting a fundraiser yard sale Saturday to support the long-term goal of constructing the county’s first animal shelter.
Diana Mandli said the Friends of Jackson County Animal Shelter currently facilitates spay and neuter services for up to 30 animals every month at discounted rates for local residents. Mandli said the volunteer group also manages a monthly food distribution program to assist pet owners facing financial hardships.
“All of this takes quite a lot of money, plus we’re trying to save money to build a shelter,” Mandli said. “And the fundraising events, they help.”
Mandli said the organization formed in 2022 after founder Mark Pack identified a critical lack of resources for animals in the rural community. Mandli said the group has already acquired land through donations and purchases but must now raise the significant capital required for construction and daily operations.
“For any pets that are being fostered through our group, we pay all the medical expenses, all the food, any vet bills, flea tick and heartworm preventatives, everything,” Mandli said. “We cover all the costs for the fostered animals.”
Mandli said the upcoming yard sale operates on a donation-based model where shoppers choose their own prices for items. Mandli said the group relies entirely on volunteers and does not have any paid staff members.
“We don’t put a price tag on anything,” Mandli said. “We just say donate what you feel is appropriate for the items that you’d like to take.”
Mandli said the event will feature adoptable dogs for a two-hour window starting at 10 a.m. to give the public a chance to see the results of their contributions. Mandli said the group previously avoided bringing animals to the sales due to the high volume of noise and traffic.
“Even if they’re not looking to adopt, at least they’ll have a chance to see what their money is doing,” Mandli said. “You know, they’re rescuing animals, lots of animals, and that’s so important.”
Mandli said the organization accepts various forms of payment on their website. Mandli said the group is currently in the planning stages for the new shelter facility. The group also offers free or heavily discounted spay and nueter services for those in need in Jackson County.
In a rural county like Jackson, Mandli said it can be partiuclarly challenging to address the welfare of the animals. In these parts of the country, pets are often “dumped” or abandoned on the side of the road.
Mandli said she strongly urges those thinking about a pet to adopt rather than shop from breeders, and consider their capacity to take care of an animal long-term.
“If you’ve got your children or your grandchildren with you, they just love them and it can just be easy to give into that,” Mandli said. “But just make sure that you understand it’s a lifelong commitment and that animal may live 12, 13, 14, 15 years… you just don’t know. And you’ve got to be there for them.”
