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Lewis & Clark Humane Society to Break Ground on New Shelter October 16, 2010

Public Invited to Celebration;
First Dog Jag Schweitzer to serve as Honorary Canine Co-Chair of Campaign

The Lewis & Clark Humane Society (LCHS) is ready to break ground on a new, 19,000-square foot animal shelter located on Frontage Road, it was announced today by LCHS Board of Directors Chairman Dan Anderson. The official ground breaking event is open to the public. The event will start at 11am on Saturday, October 16th. The formal groundbreaking ceremony and announcement of the campaign goal will start at 12:00pm. Refreshments, an adopt-a-thon, special guests, free commemorative gifts and a premiere of a new video about the shelter will be among the highlights of the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring their dogs to participate in the “ground digging” part of the ceremony.

According to Anderson, “The greater Helena community has made it clear that they want a better, larger home for abandoned animals. We’re excited to work with our neighbors and pet lovers to help get this new shelter built for the thousands of animals that need our care each year. This project is a collaboration with the city of Helena and Lewis & Clark County. We are excited to see it come to fruition.”

In a letter to the shelter commemorating the groundbreaking ceremony, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer said, “(This) groundbreaking ceremony is a result of years of hard work … The thousands of animals, the professional and volunteer staff and families seeking a new family pet will soon enjoy a new, modern and spacious animal shelter at this (new) site.” Governor Schweitzer also announced that First Dog, Jag Schweitzer, has joined the Lewis & Clark Humane Society’s campaign as Canine Co-Chair. Schweitzer said “Jag believes every animal deserves a good home and will do all he can to help get this new shelter built for his four-legged friends.”

First Dog, Jag Schweitzer is serving as Canine Co-Chair of the Campaign for a New Shelter. Won’t you join in him in making this new shelter a reality?
CLICK HERE TO DONATE >>

Gina Wiest, Executive Director of the Lewis & Clark Humane Society said, “We invite everyone to help make a new shelter a reality by coming to the ground breaking ceremony and standing with us to complete this project. We have an exciting announcement to make regarding our progress on our capital campaign, and we are ready to launch the final phase that will enable us to open the doors on a new facility. We look to the generosity of all of the animal advocates, businesses and foundations in our tri-county area to make this a reality for Helena’s homeless animals.”

The new shelter is scheduled to open in 2012. The facility will double the capacity of the current, outdated shelter and it will feature more cat and dog adoption rooms, a community library and resource center, greater outdoor space for dogs to play, better medical care rooms and space for the many volunteers who help care for the animals waiting for their forever homes.

Situated on 10.5 acres, leased from the City for just $10 a year, the new shelter will be off the Frontage Road adjacent to I-15. Wiest noted, “It will be a clean, warm, friendly place that welcomes prospective adopters and showcases the available animals in a more accessible way than we have now at the current location. The goal is that more animals than ever will be able to find their ‘forever home.’”