STRAY ANIMAL MIDWAY SHELTER
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Mission Statement
SAMS no-kill animal shelter in Hanna City was incorporated in 2010 to help reduce the number of homeless animals in central Illinois. In our first 3 years we spayed/neutered over 300 dogs and cats at no cost to their owners. Those surgeries prevented thousands of animals from being born into a world with no room for them. Nationwide over 3 million pets are euthanized each year. SAMS is dedicated to reducing that number. We opened our physical shelter in March of 2014 and by January 1, 2015 had found homes for 150 homeless dogs and cats and our goal is to increase that number to 300 per year. We rely solely on donations to fund our operation and save the lives of homeless animals. Please help us in our mission!
About This Cause
Before forming SAMS, founder and Executive Director, Connie Davis, spent 12 years volunteering at the Peoria County Welfare Shelter (PAWS)/Peoria Humane Society. PAWS is funded with county tax money and has to euthanize dogs and cats regularly to make space for incoming animals. During those 12 years, Davis worked with hundreds of animals that lost their lives as PAWS was euthanizing over 5,000 animals a year. Davis knew she was helping the animals through hands-on care, adoption outreach and fundraising, but she wanted to do more. At the core of pet overpopulation is, of course, over breeding. Whether litters are intentional or accidental, there are simply too many dogs and cats being born and not enough homes. Spay and neuter is the answer to this problem. SAMS started their operation with the first no-cost spay/neuter program in the area with no proof of income requirement. SAMS utilized 3 local vets who provided discounted services for their program. In its first 3 years SAMS raised over $24,000, which funded more than 300 spay/neuter procedures for pet owners in central Illinois. These surgeries prevented thousands of puppies and kittens from being born into a world with no room for them and entering shelters like PAWS. (An average house cat can easily produce two litters of six kittens per year. In her lifetime, she and her offspring could theoretically birth 420,000 cats.) The issue of overpopulation and homeless animals is compelling on its own; however, reduction in the number of homeless animals also helps reduce spread of disease, loss of wildlife, injuries to humans and costs at county-funded shelters. While the spay/neuter program was definitely making an impact, the ultimate goal of SAMS and its board was to open a no-kill shelter to give homeless dogs and cats a better chance at good homes. Through an estate donation received in August 2013, SAMS was able to acquire a former boarding kennel near Hanna City, IL. The property consisted of a personal residence of 1,440 square feet, a garage-like kennel building with 9 large kennels, and several large fenced yards for outdoor exercising. The residence was in very poor condition with rotting floors, falling ceilings, water damage, pests, and electrical and plumbing issues. Renovations began on a strictly volunteer basis, and over the next 5 months major demolition and reconstruction turned the main building into housing for pets. Floors were replaced, walls built, plumbing and electric updated, all to the extent of funds available. State Dept. of Agriculture inspector Ron Settles approved the facility as an animal shelter March 14th. SAMS’ board members immediately drove to PAWS and selected 4 dogs and 10 cats to be brought to our new shelter. Construction/renovation continued until all pet housing areas were ready to receive animals: The kennel building can house up to 9 large dogs; the small dog/puppy room can hold 8 and also includes a vetting/grooming area. The standard cat room holds 8, and the colony cat room can house up to 7. An isolation room was built and can hold 6 cats with contagious health concerns until they are deemed healthy and adoptable. The main cat room is in the process of being converted to colony. These rooms are particularly important because the cats are not caged and roaming, interacting and playing with other cats. This clearly has a positive impact on their contentment and behaviors, making them more adoptable. What was once a 3-bedroom house in poor condition now offers all of these pet living areas plus a waiting room, a visiting room where families can interact with adoptable animals, a usable kitchen area and office space. Areas of the home still need renovation and improvement; this will likely be ongoing given the age, quality and condition of the building. In addition to SAMS' indoor areas, the property includes two beautiful fenced acres of grassy yards for the dogs. Unlike standard shelters where dogs spend all but a few minutes a day behind kennel doors, SAMS’ dogs spend most of their time outdoors, often in “play groups” that help them become more social and therefore adoptable. Yards are large and shaded, and one even has a small swimming pool for our dogs that enjoy water. Dogs at SAMS enjoy an environment more like a home than like a shelter. Since the shelter’s opening in March, SAMS has continued to obtain animals from county shelters and a few from owner relinquish situations. We utilize Facebook, Adopt-a-pet.com and Petfinder.com to advertise our pets. As of January 1st, 2015, SAMS has found loving homes for 150 dogs and cats. Our goal for 2015 is to place 300 animals in homes and save them from possible euthanasia at a county shelter or other unfortunate circumstances. Stray Animal Midway Shelter (SAMS) is a place where a companion animal can be safely housed and lovingly cared for until such time as a permanent home can be found. The mission of SAMS is to reduce the number of homeless animals in central Illinois through foster and permanent placement of adoptable pets, through our spay/neuter program, and through education of pet owners and the general public. Please help us continue to save lives through your generous donations. Thank you!