Large crowd attend Kitty City Open House
RCCF thanked for grant
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

The new facility for cats at the Ripley County Humane Society (RCHS) was quite a hit as a large crowd came to view the new "digs" on Saturday, October 29.

The new expansion of the facility was able to be completed thanks to a grant from the Ripley County Community Foundation. Don Huffmaster, who designed the addition, noted that different animals have different needs and the previous area that held the feline population just wasn't sufficient.

Sally Morris, executive director of the Ripley County Community Foundation, was present at the open house for Kitty City and noted that it was good to see first hand how the grant money was being spent. "This is a beautiful facility," she noted, referring to the new renovation and addition to shelter cats.

Huffmaster noted that when he began to research just what the best possible design would be he found out that cats like sunlight. Not only do they like sunlight, but they need the UV rays to ward off respiratory disease. He began his research and created the design concept about four years ago, however funding made it impossible to carry out the project until now.

The new addition has plenty of sunlight with large windows that will have special made screens to keep the cats from tearing them with their claws. The area is built on concrete blocks and is made in such a way that it can be kept clean. The inside has a "kitty" door that opens into a spacious screened in porch allowing the cats plenty of fresh air and yes, sunlight.

Getting the new addition has made a difference in the cats that are being kept at the shelter, according to Donna Huffmaster, acting operations manager and volunteer for the humane society. She said the volunteers are able to brush them and interact with the cats making them more "adoptable."

A number of volunteers were on hand at the open house event and served a lunch to anyone who brought a gallon of bleach, old cell phone, roll of paper towels, or a new or used collar. The pile of donated goods piled up and volunteers kept flipping hamburgers.

A number of people wearing PAAIN (People Assisting Animals In Need) shirts were present at the open house. The Batesville based organization works hand-in-hand with the humane society to give animals the

Don Huffmaster explained that the facility at the humane society will be undergoing Phase II of the renovation project, which will correct some problems where the dogs are housed. The new "doggie digs" has been made possible through a grant from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation. He was excited about getting the animals in a better environment.

The Ripley County Humane Society remains a "no-kill" facility. Animals are shipped to various places - even other states, but none are ever sent to labs for testing. They are primarily sent to states that have neuter and spay laws where people are waiting anxiously for a pet.

The RCHS is located between Osgood and Versailles off US 421 on County Road 150 North. Hours of operation are weekdays from 4-6 p.m. and weekends by appointment. You can call for more information on adopting a pet, bringing a stray, or volunteering, at 812-689-3773. You can also go online for information at: www.rchumane.org.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Pictured from left are: Christy White, Sherri Loge, "Aunt" Bea Frizzell and Don Huffmaster. Frizzell, who is a dedicated volunteer, did the honors of cutting the ribbon for the new Kitty City facility at the Ripley County Humane Society's Open House last Saturday.