Group nears goal to buy transport van to aid shelter

Published 8:25 am Thursday, March 15, 2018

With another $5,000 gift Wednesday morning, the Friends of the Clark County Animal Shelter are within sight of putting another animal transport van on the road.

The group has a $40,000 goal to purchase, equip and insure a new van to replace one which was totaled in January.

The Clark County Fiscal Court previously gave $5,000 from its Community Foundation funds. On Wednesday, County Attorney Brian Thomas gave another $5,000 from his office’s excess fees, which brought the total raised to $36,000.

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FOCCAS President John Ballard said the group has reserved a new van and is waiting to see if the City of Winchester will contribute. Ballard approached the city last week about contributing, but the city has not responded yet.

“Whatever the city contributes will help buy the cages,” he said.

The previous van, which was owned by A Time To Live, an animal rescue organization, would transport animals from the shelter to northern states a couple times a month where they would be adopted, Shelter Director Adreanna Wills said.

Since the crash, a couple groups have rented vans to transport animals, but that plan is not sustainable.

While the previous van could transport 30 to 40 animals at a time, the new high-roof van should be able to hold about 50, she said.

The van will be owned by FOCCAS, which is a non-profit group, for the shelter’s use in adopting animals.

Ballard said fundraising will continue after the van begins making trips, as the group will pay for maintenance, fuel, occasional overnight stays for volunteers and to begin saving for the next van.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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