ST. PAUL - The St. Paul Animal Shelter continues to battle through a tough couple of years with reduced fundraising opportunities due to the pandemic, combined with a continual need to help animals that come into the organization's care.
During the Feb. 14 Town of St. Paul council meeting, representatives from the non-profit's board Anna Leskiw and Cheryl Mailloux put forward a request for annual funding to help stabilize the organization. Leskiw noted that the board looked at how other animal shelters are supported by municipalities and found that many do receive yearly support.
Mailloux explained that the shelter has been trying to fundraise, and currently has a number of initiatives in the works, such as a 50/50 raffle that is underway, an adoption drive, and a bottle drive, among other things.
When the shelter presented to the Town on Monday night, it was noted that while they had no dogs in their care due to recent adoptions, there were a number of cats up for adoption. Leskiw said she anticipates when spring arrives, the shelter could see an even bigger increase in cats coming into care.
Annual funding from the Town could help the shelter cover things such as increased utility bills and staff wages.
During the delegation, Leskiw and Mailloux explained that the shelter never fully recovers the costs it put into animals in the form of spaying and neutering and ensuring animals are vaccinated before they are adopted.
Having the additional annual funds will also help the shelter continue to improve the work it does, said Mailloux. "So we can do more. Do better."
Leskiw noted that the shelter's financial situation isn't due to a lack of trying to raise funds. The organization relies on volunteers working Bingos, and the pandemic has drastically reduced the income that is received from those Bingos.
Now that Bingos have resumed at the local hall, volunteers are working as many as they can.
When asked what their specific funding request was, Mailloux said at minimum, the shelter would like to see an annual contribution of $20,000.
She added that the increased funding could also result in the reduction surrender fees that are charged when the Town brings animals to the shelter.
Mailloux also explained that keeping staff long-term at the shelter can be a challenge due to the amount of work that is required for the amount of pay the non-profit is able to offer. Ideally, along with a full-time manager and part-time staff member, adding one more part-time position would allow for better coverage.
It was also noted that the shelter did welcome a specialist for a visit at the shelter to ensure the organization was running up to standards.
Council did not put forward a motion following the delegation, but referred the request to administration in consideration of the 2022 budget.
Mayor Maureen Miller told Leskiw and Mailloux that the work being done at the animal shelter does not go unnoticed.
*This story was updated to reflect that the funds would allow surrender fees to be waived for the Town of St. Paul only,
