New Animal Shelter To Be On Milgen Road
PAWS Columbus, Inc. announced that it has purchased property
for Columbus' new Animal Shelter.
The 11.8 acres of undeveloped land is located on Milgen
Road adjacent to Cooper Creek Park. After considering a number of different
sites throughout the community, PAWS and the City both felt the Milgen
Road location was superior -- the site is centrally located and is well
known to the community because it is next to Cooper Creek Park. There
is adequate acreage for green space and woodlands in addition to a new
center.
"It was very important that this new resource center
be as convenient as possible to everyone, and not isolated in one particular
area or segment of the Columbus Community," said Drale Short, Chief
of Special Enforcement, Columbus Consolidated Government.
As the private sector partner with the Columbus Consolidated
Government, PAWS will supplement and enhance the services currently
offered by Animal Care and Control. This partnership will allow ACC
to concentrate on enforcing animal welfare laws, and fight animal cruelty
and abandonment in Columbus. PAWS will devote its resources to provide
expanded pet adoption areas, a spay/neuter clinic, community education
and resource area, animal training and walking trails.
"What's so appealing about this site is the abundance
of woodlands and greenspace," said Beth Taylor, President of PAWS
Columbus. "PAWS will protect the beauty and integrity of the landscape
by creating walking trails for people and pets, a public dog park where
dogs can run and play in a safe and contained area, and an agility field
for dog training and community events."
PAWS and ACC are now developing criteria for the new Center
so that each organization's needs - current and future - can be met.
"We plan to make the building as cost-effective as possible while
providing the best humane care for animals and outreach services that
benefit the community. Our plan is to break ground in the Fall of 2004,"
said Taylor.
"We are confident that the citizens of Columbus will
be well-served and very pleased with the new Center. This partnership
with PAWS Columbus, Inc. is another positive example of the successful
public-private partnerships for the benefit of our community,"
said Carmen Cavezza, City Manager, Columbus Consolidated Government.
PAWS Columbus, Inc. is a non-profit organization in partnership
with the City of Columbus to enhance and supplement the services offered
by Animal Care and Control, reduce the need for euthanasia of unwanted
animals because of severe pet overpopulation, and bring people and animals
together through adoption, fostering, animal-assisted therapy and educational
programs. PAWS is supported by contributions from our community. For
more information about how you can help, please call the PAWS office
at (706) 565 - 0035 or visit our website at www.pawscolumbus.org.
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Volunteers Deliver AniMeals
(Columbus, GA) Every weekday morning, volunteers begin to arrive at
Woodall School to collect hot meals to deliver to homebound or disabled
people.
This week, these same volunteers began delivering something else with
these hot meals - pet food.
Called AniMeals, this program provides free pet food for dogs and cats
of the homebound elderly or disabled people, beginning Tuesday.
PAWS Columbus sponsors AniMeals in partnership with the community
action agency, Enrichment Services Program, Inc. (ESP) and their Home
Delivery
Meals service. PAWS provides the pre-packaged pet food and ESP volunteers
delivers the meals for animals with hot meals for their clients every
day. Donated dry dog food is packaged in zip-lock plastic bags
in daily amounts for convenience and to guarantee freshness.
AniMeals helps keep people and their companion pets together by removing
logistical and financial obstacles so that ESP clients will always be
able to provide nutritious meals for their beloved pets.
For many homebound individuals, a dog is more than a pet; it
can provide friendship, joy, and a reason for living. Studies show
that animal ownership also lowers illness levels and mortality rates.
The AniMeals program, which is now offered in Muscogee County for the
first time, is one of several like it in the United States.
We feel that this is one small way PAWS can help the homebound or
disabled by easing their burden of pet ownership by providing AniMeals
for their pets. We hope to expand this program to include more people
and their pets soon, and we are most grateful to ESP and their volunteers
for working as our partner. Together, PAWS and ESP can further enrich
the lives of their clients who are also pet owners, said Kathleen Holhstein,
President of PAWS.
PAWS (People Helping Animals - Animals Helping People) is a nonprofit
organization in partnership with the City of Columbus to enhance and
supplement the services offered by Animal Care and Control, reduce the
need for euthanasia of unwanted animals because of severe pet overpopulation,
and find a loving and compatible home for every adoptable animal.
To volunteer, please contact PAWS Columbus, 706/322-7387 or email office@pawscolumbus.org.
For volunteer opportunities or to help with this or other ESP programs,
please call Arlyn Sanchez, ESP Supervisor of Home Delivery Meals Program
at 323-0095.
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