April 14 at 11 am the ceremonial signing of the lease, allowing for property to build Dawson County's first animal shelter, took place in downtown Dawsonville. Mike Berg represented the County Commissioners, Linda Townley represented the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority, and yours truly represented the Dawson County Humane Society. Both papers were represented and photographs were taken.

This agreement gives us access to over 5 acres of land next to Rock Creek Park, a public park just a few miles south of Dawsonville, on Highway 9 near Thompson Road. The shelter will be plainly visible to anyone inside the park and we will use appropriate signage along Highway 9 to identify to location of the shelter. The Society is officially in the construction-planning phase of the project now that the land is squared away. Help is on the way for Dawson County's homeless animals!

Pictured:  Doc Mills (Dawson County Humane Society); Mike Berg (Dawson County Commissioners); Linda Townley (Etowah Water and Sewer Authority)

We are now officially in the construction-planning phase of the project. We are also able to solicit grants from corporations and private foundations that require evidence of property to apply. If you are in a position to direct us to the right people regarding such grants, perhaps because of where you work or because of people you know, please contact us. We are already aware of about $100,000 worth of grants potentially available to us, and one of our supporters, Dona Garmon, is 'grant-central' for us because of her past work reviewing grant applications for the government.

Once again I want to appeal to your sense of responsibility. You have an obvious interest in the success of our project. Perhaps you have been disappointed in the lack of contact from us or the lack of opportunities in the sort of thing you wanted to help with in humane society work. The opportunities are opening up, not just with construction, but with animal-related matters. 

Mind you, it is very small-scale right now, and your help may not immediately be needed.  But don't give up! Helpless animal lives need you and your help.