Animal Shelter Struggling to Stay Afloat

If Almost Home Animal Shelter can't raise $16,000 needed to operate through this month, staff will start the New Year by closing doors—for good.

"Basically, Camden County was supposed to build an addition onto their shelter, and we were supposed to move everything (from Almost Home) over there," said Nancy Welsh, a Collingswood resident and director of Almost Home Animal Shelter, whose operation is largely funded by the Collingswood Stray Animal Fund. "We were supposed to be here (in Almost Home's current, Pennsauken location) for two years tops. We've been here six."

The move never happened, said Welsh, once the economy fell.

"The economy got bad, public safety officials like police and firefighters were being laid off, and we weren't a priority," she said. "Even though what we're doing here is public safety."

Currently, Welsh said the county is looking for long-term options for Almost Home, including moving the operation into another building—preferrably a county-owned space.

"They're looking for a place where we can stay and won't have to make rent payments every month (like the shelter does now). A county-owned building would afford us that opportunity," said Welsh.

But with no new location on the horizon, Welsh said shelter staff are just trying to make it through the year.

"We're in a financial crisis," said Welsh of Almost Home's predicament. "And it's difficult because we can't get the medications and supplies we need. To top everything off, our washer and dryer broke a couple of weeks ago."

Simple appliances like a washer and dryer are necessary to run any shelter efficiently. Without the appliance, Almost Home can't wash towels used to clean up after animals or clean blankets used in cages.

Welsh said Almost Home receives $172,000 per year from a six-town conglomerate, a fee allowing those municipalities to send their stray and abused animals to her shelter.

Included are Pennsauken, Gloucester City, Merchantville, Audubon, Audubon Park and Woodlynne.

The annual $172,000 fee is not divided equally by the six towns. Rather, larger municipalities surrender more animals, and pay a larger amount.

"Pennsuaken and Gloucester City pay the most, and fees are proportionate to the size of their towns. Pennsauken gives us the most by far; they're paying almost 50 percent of the combined annual $172,000 fee," said Welsh.

But this month, December 2011, will be a turning point for the shelter.

"We really need to make it through December and get to January," said Welsh. "But that is going to be especially hard, because we've already borrowed against our (six-town, $172,000 annual) contract."

Almost Home's $172,000 per year allotment breaks down to $16,000 per month.

"The $16,000 we'd normally get for the month of December is not available to us this month, because we've already borrowed against it," said Welsh, adding the shelter used their December allotment to help get through previous months. "We just owe everybody right now: the company we get our medications from, Staples, the cleaning supply company we use.

"Without the $16,000, we cannot operate through December. That $16,000 is needed for our payroll alone," said Welsh. "It costs more than $16,000 to get through a month. We need at least $16,000 to pay our staff. Anything over $16,000 is what covers shelter operations."

To further complicate financial woes, Almost Home Animal Shelter is over maximum capacity.

"We can hold 50 dogs here, but currently house over 60. We can hold 80 cats, and currently have around 130," said Welsh. "We used to do 600 adoptions a year, and while all the 2011 numbers aren't in yet, we're seeing from six to 19 adoptions per month in our low season, and 30 to 40 during our high season," spring and summer, when litters are abundant.

Welsh said the faltering economy means more animals are surrendered. People lose their jobs, then lose their homes or are evicted, and can no longer care for their pets.

Shelter donations have also been affected by the economy. Welsh said Almost Home currently gets three-quarters of the donations it once generated.

"I don't know what's going to happen," said Welsh of the shelter's fate. "Worst case scenario, we'll have to shut our doors because we won't be able to care for the animals. If we did close, we'd hopefully be permitted to stay here and continue with adoptions only, until every animal is gone. But we couldn't accept any new animals, which is a shame, because we get calls every day."

Help save Almost Home Animal Shelter by making a monetary donation. Stop into Almost Home, at 9140-C Pennsauken Hwy., Pennsauken Township. Or donate over the phone by calling the shelter, at 856-663-3058.

Wish list items are also needed. View the items—and drop-off locations—in the photo gallery attached to this story.

Attend Almost Home Animal Shelter's SOS (Save Our Shelter!) event. View event details in the flier attached to this story's photo gallery.