Board in place, changes ahead for Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The new board of directors and the shelter manager at Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter/Pet Adoption Center, owned and operated by the Hill Country Humane Society, expect changes and repairs at the shelter.

After the shelter came close to having its doors closed next month, officials in both the counties it serves – Llano and Burnet – decided “that just couldn’t happen,” said Linda Raschke, Llano County Commissioner for Precinct 2, within which the shelter is located.

County commissioners realized they “had to be creative and think outside the box” to revive the shelter, she said.

New board members are working with previous leaders to get all financial information straight before the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, so contracts will be uniform for the counties and municipalities involved.

A decrease in funding and donations had a snowball effect on the organization. “We need the funding to stay open and pay for shots, vaccinations, food and all the care our babies get,” said Sandy Matteson, shelter manager. “They’re spoiled rotten.” Prices are rising for everything from vaccinations to cleaning supplies, she said.

The shelter needs major repairs before another state health inspection next year, said Jim Long, board president and retired business executive.

Long has set a goal to raise $100,000 in funds, much of which will be used for repairs like replacing rusted metal kennel troughs, fixing leaking drains and broken pipes, as well as stripping and treating the floor with a specific paint.

“I think we can pool our resources together and get it back where it needs to be,” Raschke said. “Work will be done in increments.”

Behind numbers and inspections are the animals, which pull on the heartstrings.

“There are some amazing little animals—it’s not good for me to go into that shelter, because I can’t take them all home,” Raschke said.

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.