Pets
After $32K Donated, Mokena's NAWS Shelter Hopes To 'Move Forward'
The local non-kill animal shelter faced the possibility of closing permanently, but has rallied behind community support and relief vets.
MOKENA, IL — Less than two months after fearing they would have to close the doors of a Mokena no-kill animal shelter, officials with the facility have been encouraged by community support that has allowed the group to keep the operation going.
NAWS officials told Patch this week that more than $32,000 has been raised in recent weeks that may allow the shelter from closing. In June, the group that runs the facility said that it may have to close for good after its full-time veterinarian announced she was leaving for another job in July.
The group told Patch that because of the financial hit the shelter would take with no full-time vet in place, officials feared that it may have to close. However, after saying that they were growing more optimistic about survival chances in recent days, Jeannine Huck – NAWS’ Board President — said that donations that have come in on the organization’s website have helped to turn things in the right direction.
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“We have found some incredible relief vets, which is helping tremendously, but they have limited availability so we continue to move ahead to find a new veterinarian,” Huck wrote in an email to Patch. “We pray the relief (vets) will be able to sustain things until someone is found.”
NAWS officials estimated that without a full-time veterinarian in place, they would need to raise about $35,000 per month to keep the Mokena facility open.
Find out what's happening in Mokenafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
NAWS traditionally adopt out between 3,000 and 4,000 pets a year and was on pace to adopt out around 5,000 pets this year. The clinic is typically booked out 3-4 weeks in advance and while the facility is looking at using relief veterinarians who may be able to help out on a day-to-day basis, not having a permanent veterinarian on-site puts NAWS’ long-term sustainability in question.
Huck characterized the donations that have come in as “amazing” and now hopes the momentum will continue to allow the facility to keep serving the local community.
Those wishing to contribute to the cause to save the shelter can do so by clicking here.
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