Funds still needed for shelter purchase

NORWAY — Approximately $116,703 has been raised toward purchasing a larger facility to house Responsible Pet Care, says RPC president Shirley Boyce. 

"We will keep plugging away," she said Tuesday. RPC is about one-third toward meeting its fund raising goal of $350,000 to purchase a 5,600-square foot building at 9 Lower Swallow Road.

According to Boyce, RPC has already made an offer on the building and has been granted an extension from the real estate agent to raise more funds now that its December 1 deadline has passed. 

She said she hopes RPC will be able to raise the remaining funds within the next two to three months and move into the new facility early enough this winter to save on fuel costs, which exceed $6,000 at its current location. 

"We really, really need it, so I hope that we can find a way to meet the goal so we can have a better space to work in," said Boyce. 

Over the past year, said Boyce, RPC has been struggling with animal overcrowding, particularly cats and dogs, at its facility at 132 Waterford Road in Norway. 

Boyce also said that there are a number of repairs that require immediate attention, such as a partial new roof, renovating the kitchen and replacing its rotted floor.

The new facility, said Boyce, is about twice the size of the current one and even has space outside for the animals to get exercise. 

In September, Boyce pointed out that "if you can exercise them [dogs] properly, they do a little better when they are confined for longer periods of time," thus explaining the need for more space. 

The improved space would also allow RPC to offer the first dog park in the Oxford Hills, she said. 

Last month, with a couple weeks before its December 1 deadline to raise the funds, Boyce reported that RPC had raised around $98,179. 

She said while donations keep coming in, a recent Cash Mob at RPC's desired facility in Paris helped RPC raise another $5,000 - "It jumped it up," said Boyce of the total funds raised so far. 

Of that $5,000, $2,000 was raised from craft fair sales, another $1,000 was raised from an anonymous donor and $2,500 was matched by W.J. Wheeler's Insurance. 

"Because Wheeler's gave $2,500, we hope other businesses will match that," Boyce said. 

"We are still working on [getting] donations. There are some people we haven't heard from we feel may contribute," Boyce said. 

"The urgency is still there, by all means." 

To make a tax-deductible donation, send a check marked "Building Fund" to Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills, P.O. Box 82, Norway, ME 04268 or donate through PayPal on RPC's website, www.petfinder.com/shelters/rpc.html.