The purpose of the “Society” is to provide foster care, adoptions, and/or the placement of animals that the “Society” rescues from any animal facility within Levy County. Funds will be used to facilitate the needs of rescued animals. The “Society” also will provide education on the topics of animal care, spay/neuter, animal cruelty, and general animal welfare. The mission of the “Society” is to encourage humane care and treatment to all animals.

The above mission statement provides the Humane Society’s goals and is utilized as a decision making guide for the future. Currently, the Humane Society is searching for a lead volunteer for Adoptions/ Fosters that will take the policies and procedures that the Humane Society has established to keep an accurate animal inventory, adoption list, and appropriates funds correctly. This must be someone that our board trusts and has recommendations from Veterinarians.

At present time, the Humane Society maintains several banking accounts. First, the Society has a general account for funds donated with no specific destination listed. This account is used for Education, the Society’s 990 Federal Tax Filing, State of Florida filings, office supplies, and our telephone line. The second account bears the name “Shelter Account.” This account is designated to pay for low-cost spay/neuters. Funds that are specifically donated to this account must be used for this purposes. The third account is listed under “Building Fund.” This account has specified donations as well that will be utilized for a future facility for the Humane Society. The Humane Society has a matching $150k donation to help make this dream a future reality. Funds that are donated to this account must be used for the purposes listed above. All accounts are maintained by Beauchamps & Edwards, Certified Public Accountants in Chiefland.

The Society participates in numerous community events (ie: Chiefland Watermelon Festival, Cedar Key Arts Festival, Cedar Key Seafood Festival, non-profit guest speakers, Festival of Lights, etc) to educate the public in the many areas that are listed in our mission statement.

In previous years, the Humane Society utilized a transport team that helped relocate pets to other rescues. The Humane Society received a generous donation of a Ford Astro Van where minor repairs were made by private donors. The average cost of gas was running the society approximately $800.00 a month. This was not a cost effective operation as the society was not refunded monies from rescues that were utilizing our services. The board decided to receive a list of rescues that had partnered with the Levy County Animal Services to rescue animals. After researching, many of these organizations had their own transportation thus ending our transport service.

The Humane Society has received two spay/neuter grants from the Florida Animal Friend Grant, which is the spay/neuter license plate. The Society was able to spay/neuter a total of 844 animals in Levy County. When we were running these programs, all board members were contributing to fulfilling these grants by advertising, scheduling, and educating those applicants.

It is important to remind all those involved that not only is this organization working towards the betterment of the animals in Levy County, but that we are also a business. The Humane Society board understands that concept. With the current state of the economy, we have a financial responsibility and obligation to ensure that this business continues to prosper for next 20 years.

Let’s Start placing our PAWSitive foot forward in helping these  animals and promote the Society in a PAWSitive manner.

Look forward to seeing you around,

Michelle Hagan

President