By Megan Alley
Sun staff
Animal lovers turned up in droves to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Clermont County Animal Shelter on May 20.
Clermont Animal Compassion, Advocacy, Rescue and Education took over as the new operator of the county animal shelter at the beginning of the year.
The whole community was invited to the open house event, which was held at the shelter, located at 4025 Filager Road in Batavia.
The day, which ran from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., featured shelter tours, music, games, raffles – including the chance to win gift cards, themed baskets and an original pet portrait –, food, drinks and free ice cream.
Guests were also able to learn about the shelter’s new programs and volunteer opportunities, which are available for young and mature adults throughout the summer.
“The turnout was really good … it was a great day for us,” Carolyn Evans, Clermont Animal CARE’s executive director, said.
The main attraction proved to be shelter’s adoptable dogs and cats; four of each were adopted out during the event.
Looking ahead, CACHS is focused on continuing to implement its plans as well as launching new programs, services and resources for the shelter and the community, Evans said.
“CACHS is dedicated to advancing the no-kill movement and making Clermont County Ohio’s only county shelter that does not euthanize healthy, adoptable animals due to over-crowding. CACHS relies on a wide network of rescue partners to support its efforts in finding safe, loving homes for animals in need, and to ensure dogs and cats are spayed/neutered to reduce pet overpopulation,” read a press release for the event.
Evans noted that the changes the CACHS is trying to implement are not only aimed at becoming a no kill shelter, but affecting the whole area to become a no kill community.
“We wanted to be able to show the public what we’re doing inside the four walls of the shelter, but then give them ideas and opportunities to be involved so that we as an entire community can really embrace that no kill philosophy; and we need the community to help us do that,” she said.
For more information about Clermont Animal CARE, visit the organization’s website at www.clermontanimalcare.org.