Humane Society for Logan County at risk of closing without donor support

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (WNKY) – A local animal shelter says it may be forced to close its doors as early as July 18 if it doesn’t receive an urgent influx of financial support.

The Humane Society for Logan County, a cat-only shelter that has served the area for decades, says it’s facing an unprecedented financial crisis brought on by an overwhelming kitten season and a drop in adoption income.

“We are in a serious cash crisis,” said Julie Martin, president of the Humane Society for Logan County. “We’ve stretched every dollar. We’ve cut everything we can… but now, we simply won’t make it through the month without help.”

According to Martin, the shelter costs about $10,000 a month to operate, covering food, vaccines, vet care, and basic utilities. But unlike some assume, the shelter receives no funding from the county and only $684 a month from the city of Russellville, which goes toward rent. The rest of the shelter’s budget relies entirely on donations, fundraising, and grants.

This year’s kitten season has been especially difficult. With most cats too young to be adopted and several mothers nursing newborns, the shelter’s ability to bring in adoption revenue slowed to a halt, even as costs soared.

“Sometimes we’re dealing with 60 cats and it’s just one person,” said Gracie Cormier, one of the shelter’s few paid staff members. “It’s stressful, but it’s rewarding too. You see where they end up, and that makes it worth it.”

Martin says the shelter has launched a new membership program to try and stabilize funding. If just 500 people commit to donating $10 or $19 a month, the shelter says it will be able to stay open and even grow its services.

“We want to be here for another 37 years,” Martin said. “We want to fix the stray cat population in Logan County. We have a plan, we just need people to stand behind us.”

Residents can support the shelter by becoming monthly donors through the “Friends of the Humane Society” membership program.

You can also drop off supplies, volunteer, or adopt a cat at the shelter’s location: 1970 Lewisburg Road, Russellville, KY

Even small monthly donations, Martin says, could help keep the doors open, and the animals safe.

They can become a Member of the Humane Society through a link on the front page of the following website. For a $19 a month donation, they become a “Friend of the Humane Society,” and for a $10 a month donation, they are an “Ally of the Animals” visiting
https://adoptlcpets.com/become-a-member.