'Severe' Money Problems At Hinsdale Humane Society

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale Humane Society's donations have dropped sharply, causing the group to experience "severe financial difficulty," it announced Friday.

In a mass email, the society said its larger building allows it to help more than 1,600 animals a year, up from 1,000 at the older, smaller shelter.

The bigger shelter lets the staff veterinarian, Kristin Tvrdik, spay or neuter 3,000 animals a year for the society and local shelters in need, the society said.

"Adoption fees and our community programming and services revenue don't come close to covering the expenses of caring for all of the animals that need us," the society said. "We have cut our costs and are running as lean as possible, but are unable to keep up with all that is coming at us."

Animal welfare is in crisis because an estimated 3 million spay and neuter surgeries did not happen across the United States, according to the society. Now, litters of kittens and puppies are showing up on the society's doorstep daily, the group said.

According to the mass email, the shelter at 21 Salt Creek Lane is overcapacity and cannot continue to save lives without donations.

For the fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 2020, the society reported $1.2 million in income and $2 million in spending, resulting in an $732,000 shortfall, according to the group's tax form. That is the last year that the society's tax form is on the GuideStar website.

In that year, Tom Van Winkle, the society's executive director, made a salary of $80,000, according to the tax form. He left last spring after five years. The new director is Jacki Rossi.