Best Friends Sanctuary is celebrating its 25th anniversary of animal rescue and community service in Fentress County with a pet food giveaway and celebration August 12.
Lead Fundraiser Jan Shank said the organization officially began its mission on August 17, 2001, to address a total lack of animal welfare resources in the area. Shank said the sanctuary has thrived for two and a half decades thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, including original members Becky Duncan, Sandra Hall, and current Director Sharon Cravens.
“It’s quite a milestone,” Shank said, “And quite honestly I don’t think the community when we started 25 years ago on August 17, 2001 did not believe that we would continue and be able to still be thriving 25 years later, but we have.”
Shank said the event will feature refreshments, opportunities to meet animals, and information regarding the sanctuary’s low-cost spay and neuter vouchers.
“We will have applications for our low cost spay and neuter program which is if you make less than $36,000 a year you can get a voucher and get your pet spayed or neutered for $25 and that is a very good deal,” Shank said. “So and we have been doing that probably ever since the beginning because one of the things that we were aware of when we first started was the overpopulation and the lack of spaying and neutering of animals in Fentress County which was causing the overpopulation.”
Shank said the sanctuary utilizes state grants and private donations to fund the voucher program. Shank said the organization also operates a pet food pantry to ensure local residents do not have to surrender their pets due to temporary financial hardships.
“I always tell people when they come I said listen it’s a whole lot better for us and your pet if they’re able to stay with you and you can take care of them and us help you just until you get over this rough spot than for us to have to take in your animal because you can’t keep them anymore,” Shank said. “It’s better for the pet the dog the cat to stay with their family so that’s one of the reasons that we are doing this and we are able to.”
Shank said the sanctuary is a member of the United Pet Fund, which allows the organization to purchase pallets of dog food, cat food, and litter at a discounted rate. Shank said the sanctuary will be distributing these supplies for free to anyone in need during the August 12 event.
“The biggest need for us is for people to take and participate in the spay and neuter program,” Shank said. “Overpopulation in Fentress County is a huge huge problem and the only way we cannot adopt our way out of this and we cannot foster our way out of this we have to spay and neuter the way out of it.”
Shank said volunteers will be on-site during the festivities to discuss fostering and adoption opportunities with interested visitors. Shank said the sanctuary will also provide brochures detailing the organization’s annual expenditures and operational impact.
“We just want people to come see the shelter see some of the animals that will be out enjoy the refreshments and if they need then take part in the free dog food, cat food and cat litter program,” Shank said.
The anniversary celebration will take place from 1-3pm at the sanctuary located at 346 Volunteer Drive in Jamestown.
