Wellington Humane Society to hold open house from 2 to 5 p.m. this Sunday
Submitted to Sumner Newscow by the Wellington Humane Society board — Finally—the new Wellington Humane Society facility will welcome the public for viewing on Sunday, November 17 from 2 until 5 p.m. The location: 203 W Hillside, on the road to Worden Park Sports Fields. Animals will not be accepted until later in the month and even then, by appointment only. We will be serving all of Sumner County. Board Members will be present to answer questions. This facility is the first of its kind in our County and a real asset.
Wellington resident Linda Stewart organized and registered as a 501c3 this not for profit society in 1998. This has been a long-time effort and dream come true for many contributing and serving volunteers over the past 20 years as board members and fundraisers. The city gave us a property within the Industrial Park area with all available services—sewer, electricity, roads, etc.—plus ample acreage that also presents room for two large dog parks which will be available next spring once the grass is planted.
Click on map to enlarge.
John and Linda Stewart promised $75,000 in matching funding from the city to establish a Directors Salary Fund. In years past, the county commissioners gave $25,000 for startup costs i.e. signage, operational costs, postage, architect fees, etc.
We were excited about the city, county and citizens’ enthusiastic support. An Endowment Fund (now at $322,000) was started to generate income for the future facility and program expenses. All memorial monies go into this fund. The building fund was started by the Jack and Jeanne Mitchell Remainder Trust with $432,000 (three-fourths for Building Fund and one-fourth to the Endowment Fund).
Our largest grant so far ($20,000) has come from the Anschutz Family Foundation and will go toward the purchase cost of a $30,000 x-ray machine for our vets’ surgery area. Jud Mitchell has gifted us with free use of Sumner County TV advertising and his assistant, Alda Boyd, to keep our activities and needs in the public eye for these past 20 years.
Doug Pfalzgraf has been our legal advisor from beginning days of the organization to present—free gratis. Chad Renn updated our bylaws four years ago. Accounting services have been donated by Jan Korte, Kelly McComb, J.P. Buellesfeld and Lonnie Cooper (our current accountant). The staff of Stewart Companies—Duane Reichenberger and Sherri Beltz—has been phenomenal throughout the building process with onsite supervision, bill payments, computer and typing services, communication needs and first-hand labor—i.e. land preparation, laying sod, watering, and onsite demands from early mornings until late evenings.
Phyllis Todd has donated her time and boarding facility and given heart and soul to this project—unbelievable dedication to holding and placing animals for years while encouraging us to move forward with a facility. Debbie Woodrow has served on call wherever and whenever needed.
Our thanks and appreciation to our architects, WDM of Wichita, Kansas, Baker Fence Company of Derby, Kansas and Manning Construction, our builder from Olathe, Kansas. Last but not least—a BIG “THANK YOU” to John Stewart who continues to pay the bills that keep coming in.
This endeavor will only be successful with the support and involvement of the county citizenry. Our building costs have passed the three and a half million mark—a gift from MANY. We hope to make our animal assistance available to all and the county PROUD!
