Shelter raises funds with raffle

Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) held the Jingle Paws for a Cause Holiday Raffle to raise money for the shelter. Tickets were sold at businesses in Plains and Thompson Falls through December 15. Tickets were drawn at the Limberlost Brewery on December 16 during their second annual caroling party. Silent auction items were donated, and final bids taken during the caroling party at Limberlost Brewing.

The three donated silent auction items were RV repairs from CJ's RV, a $200 gift certificate and travel items from sponsor Sunset Hills Funeral Homes, M&M Liquor and Garden Gift & Floral/Plains liquor basket, and a box of kids' books. The raffle items came from several businesses and were put into groups for eight separate drawings. Values ranged from $205 to $525.

Shelter employee Karen Olson, who worked on the fundraiser, said they met and exceeded the goal for this year. The shelter raised $2,000 from the raffle ticket sales and the silent auction combined. "The daily cost of running the shelter is $1,000," according to Olson. They are often at full capacity and average 60-75 adoptions per month. The animals are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and chipped before they are adopted out, unless they are too young when adopted. "We will get them spayed or neutered when they are old enough," Olson said.

Olson said she has posted animals on Facebook asking people to consider giving a donation for the holidays. "We received roughly $1,000 from online donations," she said. But overall it hasn't been that profitable.

"I would like to look into finding sponsors to spotlight a pet on a regular basis in the newspaper," she said. The shelter employees have been brainstorming ideas for raising money. "The idea of community involvement with local businesses giving discounts to local people who adopt one of our animals, and possibly sponsor a pet, appeals to me," Olson said. There are structural issues as well that need to be addressed, according to Olson. "If somebody wanted to donate their time and fix some of our lighting and ceiling issues, that would be great."

Some dogs and cats come to the shelter as adults. They often have health issues. Shelter employee Kendra Torti said she works full time. She works with the smaller dogs and some that are older and are waiting for their forever home. One small dog who is eight years old had heart worms but is healthy now, according to Olson. Torti enjoys being able to pick them up and give them the attention they seem to crave.

TRACS has a website for viewing the adoptable animals. "Some of the photos don't do them justice," Olson said. Seeing them in person gives people a better idea of their size and personalities, she concluded.