|
Most businesses would be
green with envy at the year
MAMAS had in 2010. It was
up about 70 percent in placing
dogs over 2009. About 500
dogs found good homes this
year which is more than any
other year since its founding.
But there is a downside, most
businesses make a profit on
every `sale’. Unfortunately
for MAMAS, it loses money
on every pup rescued from
hunger, harm, and hurt. This
means the more success it has,
the financial condition just
gets worse.
Bonnie Milliken,
Treasurer for MAMAS,
explained, “We depend on
community support to make up
the difference between what
we receive from adoption fees
and the costs of running the
shelter.” The problem this
year, Milliken continued, is,
“Our intakes have increased
significantly. More dogs mean
more expense, and outside
support isn’t keeping up,
especially in Bamberg
County.” Joey Guess,
MAMAS's Board President,
pointed out that the bulk of the
funding comes from outside
Bamberg County, and that
imbalance has grown
significantly worse this year.
Without a financial shot in the
arm from the community they
serve, the existence of the
shelter is in serious jeopardy.
MAMA's board member
Emily Guess says that
Bamberg County receives a
grant funded by 'Bob Barker'
to spay and neuter animals, but
very few people take
advantage of it.
"Even though Bamberg
County is a poor county, I
think it can do better when it
comes to helping MAMAS,"
said Guess.
As you look at the shelter,
located four miles south of Bamberg in a field behind
a ball diamond, you know it is
not spending money on fancy
facilities. Pens and cages are
very plain and Spartan. The
office wouldn’t exactly be the
sort of place most people
would aspire to work in.
When the weather’s cold, like
now, people jostle with dogs
who need warmth. It is pretty
chaotic. Ruthie Rish, longtime
volunteer and board
member, sighs as she surveys
the scene. Although she’s
been busy cleaning up assorted
messes, it’s obvious she has a
way to go.
Currently there are about
80 dogs and puppies on the
grounds, more than they would
like to have, but a small
percentage of the 525 dogs or
so found “forever homes”, as
they like to put it. Rish was
proud to note that almost every
dog that came in this year has
been placed. “We only have a
couple of what we call
`mascots’." Drop, one of the
mascots, is a tri-colored
hound, maybe five or six years
old, and a frequent resident in
the office. Drop is quiet,
slowly wagging her tail,
hoping that this is the year she
will be adopted.
Probably looking at the
results for MAMAS, it is one
of the most successful shelters
in South Carolina even though
many shelters have far more
money. MAMAS never
euthanizes a dog except in
extreme cases of suffering or
because an animal is
dangerous and threatening.
Rish, looking around,
went on, “Although we save
dogs, people win too. Every
dog who gets a home is a
companion to a family. You
wouldn’t believe the stories of
joy we’ve heard from our
adopters.” Looking a bit
wistful, she said it would be a
shame if this all came to an
end.
MAMAS is now in the
midst of its annual fundraising
drive. They invite folks to
visit or call the shelter for
more information. As
Milliken made plain, without
more support – funds,
supplies, volunteers – there’s a
lot of dogs and people who
won’t find the happiness
they’d otherwise deserve.
MAMAS is hoping the
residents of Bamberg County
will rally for the sake of the
survival of the shelter so
homeless dogs have a second
chance for life, and the
citizens of the county will
continue to benefit from the
service the shelter provides.
For more information,
call 245-7387 or if you would
like to make a donation to
M.A.M.A.S send it to P.O. Box 1157, Bamberg, S.C. 29003. |
