Highland Humane Society receives generous bequest, purchases new facility

On Friday, June 9, The Highland Humane Society purchased a new facility located in southern Highland County.

The current facility, located at 9331 state Route 124, Hillsboro, has been the original location of the organization since 1969.

“Our current facility has been servicing the community for many years, but with the increase in adoptions and community programs, it was becoming difficult to operate out of such a small space,” Executive Director Richelle Fair said. “We also struggled with customer parking at our current location, especially during our Rascal Clinics, which are held twice monthly.”

The Board of Directors approved the purchase at the April 2023 meeting with final approval of the figures in May 2023 after receiving a generous donation from a Highland County resident’s estate.

Board of Directors Treasurer Sarah Roe coordinated the process, along with the Humane Society’s newly hired financial adviser with The Schwemlein Wealth Management Group of Janney Montgomery Scott. The Janney Group also assists the Ross County Humane Society in financial management and services several other nonprofits in the area.

In addition to the Janney Group, the Humane Society has also consulted with Mathew Greene, Financial Adviser with Edward Jones of Hillsboro, to assist in managing funds received with specific bequest instructions and the society’s short-term financial goals for animal care.

“We are forever grateful for the donor and their family who made this possible,” Roe said. “For many years the Humane Society has struggled to provide our community with the resources it needs, either due to mismanagement and absence of policy and procedures, lack of funding, and at times theft. We have an excellent Board of Directors who have the experience in place to continue moving the shelter forward. I am looking forward to working with our financial advisers to continue financial growth for the organization.”

The new facility will boast additional parking; separate buildings for dogs and cats to include meet and greet rooms for one-on-one time with potential adopters; eight acres of land to walk dogs and create enrichment play yards; a reception area with two management offices; a separate area that will eventually be used as a veterinary suite to perform surgeries and animal care; and a nursing mothers area for cats and kittens.

The Board of Directors for the Humane Society expects renovations on the new facility to take approximately six to nine months, with a grand opening to the public in Spring of 2024. In the meantime, the shelter will continue operations at its current location.

Special thank-you to Jen Swackhamer and Becki Oglesby of Walker Real Estate Advisors; Ronnia Gittinger of Mattingly Ford Title Services; Jim Gibbs of Gibbs Insurance; Susan Davis of Davis Law Office; Seth Ash of The Janney Group; Mathew Greene of Edward Jones; and most of all Myra and Donald Pendleton for your generous bequest to the Highland Humane Society.

If you would like to make a financial contribution, foster, volunteer or purchase supplies for the Humane Society, please contact the shelter directly at (937) 393-2110 or visit www.highlandhumanesociety.org.
 
About The Highland Humane Society: The Highland Humane Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 animal shelter that provides a safe haven for dogs and cats while they transition from their past lives to their future forever homes. The Highland Humane Society offers several options for low-cost spay/neuter and provides managed intake of cats and dogs in Highland County and surrounding communities when space permits. The shelter is a private organization originally founded in 1969. It is managed by a full-time staff and dedicated Board of Directors. The Highland Humane Society is open Tuesday to Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.