Hart County Shelter Has Heart

Hart County Animal Shelter has a positive energy, a plan for the future, and a staff with (okay, I’m gonna go for the hokey here) — heart.

That was clear from the moment I heard from their key volunteer Devon, who calls herself a ‘flying monkey’ because she does just about anything for the shelter from transports to adoption events to scooping poop—helping in any way she can. She invited us to visit the shelter and see how much the committed staff are doing with the little space/resources they have.

Shelter director Tony is a big part of the shelter’s success. He’s also a coroner and a firefighter, so his ties to the community run deep (he was called out for a house fire while we were visiting). Tony is an organized, capable, smart leader surrounded by an excellent staff. His can-do attitude and common sense practices set the tone.

Lisa is the office administrator who also handles their social media and a million other tasks. Ashley is a vet tech who takes care of the medical care for the animals. Together, the team creates a positive atmosphere and provides excellent care.

The shelter is just two and a half years old and located in a rented space in Munfordville that was originally a veterinary office. Last year, the shelter handled 532 dogs, and their numbers are trending upward this year.

That’s impressive since they only have 8 kennels (16 if they put down the guillotine doors). They have an additional overflow facility (they called it ‘357’), a former Amish breeding facility which we didn’t have time to visit. That’s where their dogs serve out their stray holds or await room to open up at the shelter.

The shelter is in the process of starting a 501 (c)(3) organization to build a new shelter with 100 kennels. The kennels will be set up in ‘pods’ with six dogs sharing an outdoor space connected to their kennels (we love this idea!).

The shelter will handle the Animal Control contract for Hart County and the city of Munfordville. When the new shelter is built, they’ll save 25K in rent. Both municipalities will contribute to the budget for the new shelter.

The shelter is blessed to have two tremendous advocates, Steve and Penny Thompson, who spend time working with the dogs at 357. Their organization, ARK Hart County, helps with the dogs at the ‘357’ facility, raises funds to meet shelter needs, and brings their ARK Youth group to work with the dogs. Steve and Penny are also musicians, and they have a band called Top Shelf. They plan to host a music festival next May to raise funds for the shelter on Tony’s father’s farm, plus additional festivals in other places.

Currently, Hart County Shelter only has room to take in strays; they accept applications for owner surrenders and take them when there is room.

Hart County Shelter has about 20 adoptions a month and is blessed to be able to transfer fairly large numbers of dogs to Bowling Green (a larger shelter about 40 minutes away). There is a breed ordinance in the nearby city of Horse Cave so that limits their ability to place some of their animals. (I’m sure I don’t have to tell you which breeds are being restricted.)

There were lots of puppies and beautiful dogs at the shelter when we visited. We met a rare type of Red Husky –

The dirt around the shelter is red clay, and the beautiful bonded pair of likely purebred Huskies were covered in it. The Huskies are still at the shelter, so if you know of a Husky rescue or are interested in these sweet, gorgeous dogs, contact the shelter.

Nancy and I were both smitten with Croissant, an adorable dog who, at 169 days, is their longest-stay resident. He looks more boxer than pittie to me, but his assumed breed makes him a harder placement despite being an absolute sweetheart. (HAPPY UPDATE: Croissant has since found his forever home!!)

The shelter has many clever events and fundraisers, but I loved their ‘virtual foster program.’ People can sign up to be a virtual foster, which means they come to visit their foster at the shelter regularly and get to know them, take pictures, maybe host them for a sleepover, and after each visit, they fill out a foster report to help the staff gain more knowledge about the dog’s habits and personality.

Another regular practice is posting a ‘good dog of the week’ on a board at the shelter and on their social media showcasing that dog. The program has successfully found adopters for many good dogs.

Hart County is making the most of what they’ve got, and providing first-class care. To protect puppies who come in, they’ve installed two quarantine kennels that can isolate parvo puppies in their bathroom!

There is so much to celebrate about this shelter, and they are just getting started. You can thank and support Hart County Animal Shelter by shopping their Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3ANW31KR0INRT/

You can also donate directly to the shelter here: square.link/u/hT4jpO84?src=sms

Or buy a bed for one of their dogs here: https://shelterbeds.org/donate/401978

On our way out, the staff gave Nancy and me Hart County t-shirts, which have a QR code on the back of the shirt – another clever way to bring attention to this shelter that is leading the way to saving the animals and supporting the community of Hart County.

Until each one has a home,

Cara

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