By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
The Henry County Humane Society- Geneseo Shelter became a reality 50 years ago, in January of 1975.
Prior to that time, the lost and abandoned animals in Geneseo were housed in what has been described as “sadly inadequate facilities.”
A group of concerned Geneseo citizens were instrumental in forming an organization in 1974 with a goal of “aid in the prevention of cruelty to animals, and to generally improve the lot of defenseless animals.”
In 2005, the group began holding office hours at the animal shelter which allowed anyone interested in adoption to come and meet the animals. They also placed profiles and photographs online to help introduce the animals to families or individuals who may be interested in adopting.
HOW IT BEGAN ---Some information in the history section of this story was provided by the Geneseo Humane Society – Geneseo Shelter and by Geneseo writer Steve Kastorff.
Those volunteers also took the animals on outings away from the shelter for “meet and greets” to help with the adoption process, and their efforts seemed to work as by 2015 the group averaged 300 adoptions per year.
In the first year of incorporation, at no cost to them, the group shared the Geneseo City Dog Pound, located north of Geneseo. The group of volunteers arranged to have a heater placed in the dog pound and they also were responsible for the installation of a new roof.
With the increase of interest in the animals, there was a need for more volunteers. That “need” resulted in the group continuing as an organization and becoming the Henry County Humane Society – Geneseo Branch. It was the hope of those volunteers that the name would clarify that the group was there to help animals in the Geneseo area, and not the entire county.
By the fall of 1986, the group was still using the city dog pound and the volunteers had just completed work on a new exercise yard at the facility.
Fast forward to 2000, and the group was continuing to operate from donations and there were no paid workers to help care for the animals. The group still was operating from the city-owned shelter at no cost to the group, with the exception of the cost of caring for the animals housed at the shelter.
In December of 2007, it was announced that the organization would begin raising funds to construct a new Henry County Geneseo Branch of the Humane Society, located south of the city-owned shelter.
The volunteers envisioned a new building, more than 7,000 square feet in size, as the city shelter that housed the animals in 2007 was 1,200 square feet.
Geneseo Communications spearheaded the fund-raising effort in 2007 with a goal of raising $50,000 for a new shelter building.
The Henry County Humane Society – Geneseo Shelter is governed by a nine-member board, which includes, from left, Kristen VerStraete, board member; Linda VanDerLeest, president; Jamie DeSplinter, vice president; Cindy Hoste, treasurer; Kim Park, board member; Ashley Moore, board member; Traci Ellsworth, secretary, and Katie Irwin, board member. Carlie Sanchez also is a board member, but was absent for the photo. Contributed Photo
In 2007, the Humane Society had 51 members and about 30 volunteers who helped with more than 160 animal adoptions that year. The need to have their own building came from insurance concerns raised by the city’s insurance provider.
The goal was to build the new facility south and west of the original dog pound. Until the new building could be constructed, a wall was put up between the city side and the Humane Society’s in February of 2008.
With the new wall in place, the city had four dog runs and a bank of cat cages and the Humane Society had four dog runs and a cat room. The building was arranged so each side would have its own entrance.
In June of 2008, the second phase of the fund-raising for the building was underway, as the first $50,000 became a reality.
New construction began in 2013, but funds were short which stalled the completion of the facility.
In 2016, Dr. Barb Kuhns and her husband, Bob Kuhns, donated $250,000 for the completion of the new shelter and the Humane Society – Geneseo Branch now operates out of its new home and is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
AND WHAT IT HAS BECOME
The Henry County Humane Society – Geneseo Shelter has continued to grow through the years.
Katie Irwin, who serves on the Humane Society Board, shared that growth has happened not only in the number of animals being cared for and adopted, but also in the number of people who are dedicated to the well-being to those animals and where they are housed.
“We have experienced exciting changes over the past couple of years,” Irwin said. “Our board has evolved significantly, with four new members joining in that time, bringing us to a total of nine. This expansion has infused fresh energy and diverse perspectives into our leadership, allowing us to strengthen our commitment to our mission and create a more dynamic, forward-thinking team. These changes have propelled us into a period of growth and transformation, positioning us for continued success as we work to further our impact in the community.”
Irwin added that the group is dedicated to forward-thinking practices that anticipate future needs, ensuring that the shelter not only meets current demands, but is prepared for tomorrow’s challenges.
“Through strategic sustainability planning, we focus on building a resilient and resource-efficient organization that thrives over time,” she said. ‘In addition, we actively seek to cultivate strong community partnerships, knowing that collaboration and relationship-building are vital to achieving lasting change for both animals and the community we serve.”
Accomplishments of the Humane Society – Geneseo Shelter in the last two years include:
-Creating six new dog yards with privacy fencing and artificial turf to create a more comfortable space;
-Enhanced disease prevention protocols, bringing ringworm transmission down to zero.
-A community-donated deep freezer, allowing us to expand our dog enrichment program.
-A growing team of volunteers, enabling us to provide even more individualized care.
-The addition of two employees with veterinary technician experience, reducing vet costs and improving in-house care.
“These milestones reflect our commitment to elevating care for the animals we serve and strengthening our community impact,” Irwin said.
TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVESARY MILESTONE
The Henry County Humane Society – Geneseo Shelter will host their first “Paws for the Cause Gala” from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Lavender Crest Winery.
The evening will include:
-Live music from two artists – Eva Kendall & Chloe Mae.
-A live and silent auction.
-A delicious dinner.
-A pop-up shop featuring exclusive Humane Society merchandise and animal goodies!
For more information, contact the Geneseo shelter at info@henrycountyhumanesociety.org and see the attached graphic bout the Gala.