Judy McKonly cherished animals her total life, however she all the time had a particular affinity for cats. She dreamed of placing her household’s fortune to good use by sooner or later opening a cat shelter like no different. Sadly, she handed away earlier than her dream grew to become a actuality.
Her household carried out her dream utilizing $1.5 million dollars in seed cash from the household’s nonprofit, The McKonly Basis.
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Constructed to Please Cat Residents
The Columbia Animal Shelter is a state-of-the-art facility that’s as fashionable and delightful as it’s extremely purposeful. Stuffed with home windows that permit mild to pour in from open air, the rooms are spacious and brilliant.
Tall, expertly designed cat towers fill the visiting rooms in massive numbers. This provides the cats loads to climb on and permits potential adopters to see their potential new fur infants in motion.
Cats completely love the screened in space on the again of the constructing. It offers them an opportunity to go searching exterior, really feel the breeze, and get a way for the outside all within the security of a contained, indoor area.
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Absolutely Staffed and Able to Serve
The Columbia Animal Shelter is staffed by 6 full-time workers members, veterinarian Jen Johnston and 5 others. Transferring ahead, the shelter will depend on volunteers and donations to maintain the operation operating. The local people will certainly do what they’ll to assist, realizing all of the love and thought that went into creating this superb area for cats in want.
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Shelter Fills a Want within the Group
Columbia has by no means had a shelter like this, which is among the causes Ms. McKonly aspired to convey one to life. Her son, Mike McKonly and workers veterinarian Jen Johnston know that the shelter is filling a necessity that was sorely missing of their neighborhood.
“I feel it is a great dream, and it’s nice for the neighborhood, nice for Columbia,” stated Johnston.
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“It was value it. We needed to try this for her (Judy McKonly). It’s only a great facility,” stated Mike McKonly.
Though the general public that at the moment are concerned within the day-to-day operation of the shelter didn’t even know Judy McKonly, they really feel gratitude in the direction of her for leaving a legacy that can have a long-lasting impression on so many animals, folks, and the neighborhood of Columbia.
“She should have been a beautiful girl to have accomplished this. This is sort of a dream,” stated Cate Girvin, a volunteer.
The no-kill shelter opened in March of this 12 months and serves principally stray and surrendered cats and kittens.
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