Animal shelter to stay in Leverett

[ Originally published on: Saturday, May 09, 2009 ]

GREENFIELD -- The Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society will not close its Leverett shelter, according to its executive director.

Instead, it plans to expand the programs it has been offering in Franklin and Hampshire counties since Dakin and the former Greenfield Area Animal Shelter merged in 2006, said Executive Director Leslie Harris.

Those include its adoption program, its spay and neuter assistance program, humane education and its pet food assistance programs.

The announcement to expand its programs came just days after the local humane society announced it will take over the closed Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals center in Springfield and in the process close its Greenfield location on the French King Highway.

Dakin recently purchased the Hampden County site, which is 15 times larger than its Leverett site, for $1.2 million.

''Leverett will remain open. We live here and we're not going to turn our backs on Franklin and Hampshire counties,'' said Harris.

Harris said she understands emotions are running high with the announcement to close the Greenfield facility, which for the past couple of years has not been open to the public, at the end of June.

Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association Executive Director Timothy C. Neumann, who served on the Dakin board in the past, said he will continue to support the local humane society, but hopes its work in Springfield does not interfere with work in Franklin and Hampshire counties.

''Dakin has many wonderful programs and I want them to continue,'' said Neumann. ''I want to hear from administrators that Dakin is committed to this area.''

Dakin will hold a community forum May 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Greenfield High School cafeteria. Harris said it will explain its plans in detail to the community and will answer questions and hear concerns.

For the past two years, the Greenfield shelter has been used by Dakin as a rescue and rehabilitation center, as well as for adoption preparation. All animals were sent to Greenfield before Leverett to be examined, evaluated for behavioral problems and to receive vaccinations.

''That will now be done at both the Leverett and Springfield sites,'' said Harris, who plans to open the Springfield site on Aug. 1.

She said some space in the Greenfield shelter was leased by the town until last December. The town used it to shelter strays, but when it did away with the animal control officer position, it decided to stop leasing the space.

''We're very aware of the tremendous need in Franklin and Hampshire counties and we'll continue to reach out in those communities,'' said Harris.

She said the local humane society is not sure what it will do with its Greenfield property. It will have to find out if there are any deed restrictions or limitations to who or what it could sell it to, but, it doesn't plan to run anything out of the 39-year-old building.

Dakin employs 26 people -- 13 work in Greenfield and 13 work in Leverett. Harris said the 13 Greenfield employees will keep their jobs and be transferred to either Leverett or Springfield. Some of the Greenfield employees have volunteered to go to Springfield.

''We'll be evaluating additional staffing needs over the next few months,'' said Harris. ''I'm sure we'll be hiring more people.''

The local humane society receives all of its funding through donations and its current yearly operating budget of $1 million is expected to more than double to a little more than $2 million when the Springfield facility opens.

Dakin plans to begin campaigning for donations in Hampden County. In 2008, it received $500,000 from individual and business donors in Hampshire and Franklin counties.

The local humane society had planned over the past few years to build a bigger facility in Franklin County and had been looking for land on the border of Hampshire and Franklin counties. If that had happened, Dakin had planned on closing both the Greenfield and Leverett sites.

She said the good news is Greenfield will not lose any money off its tax roll, because the nonprofit didn't pay taxes. If there are no deed restrictions, Harris said something could end up on the site that would be put on Greenfield's tax roll.

Rarie Dye of Hawley, who has been a longtime donor and is a past president of Dakin's board, said she will continue to support the local humane society.

''I understand why people feel abandoned by the Greenfield shelter closing, but Dakin is planning on serving all three counties now,'' said Dye. ''The most important thing right now is for the shelter to take care of animals and provide strong educational programs to the public to prevent abuse.

''Right now, the shelter needs money and action from new and old donors,'' said Dye. ''I hope Dakin holds a few meetings with the community so people really understand what's going on.''

 

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