Rescue shelter topic of Lions program
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The Red River Sun/Bev Odom
Boss Lion Rex Henard presents a donation from the Lions Club for the Wellington Rescue Shelter to Lion Janie Thomas following her March 1 presentation.
By Bev Odom
The Red River Sun
WELLINGTON – At the March 1 meeting, Lion Janie Thomas described the accomplishments and financial needs of the nonprofit Wellington Rescue Shelter (WRS) that has been in operation for about 10 weeks.
WRS Officers include President Andi Needham Duke, Vice President Kacee Needham, Treasurer Janie Thomas, Secretary Caren Hampton, Public Relations Coordinator Shannon Rollins and Volunteer Manager Stephanie Rynae.
Thomas listed the WRS board members as Duke, Shirley Fike, Pat and Geney Gulley, Don and Bonnie Hall, Sharon Starkey and Margret Wood.
Thomas explained that officers housed around 30 dogs which included their own during the recent snow and Arctic blast. The shelter accepts surrendered dogs as well as those that run the streets.
“Andi has been an angel saving many dogs,” Thomas said. “It’s been challenging without the shelter being up and running. So far, we have adopted out 15 dogs, and 11 were transported to a shelter in Colorado.”
Thomas and her daughter Myka Kelch have made some recent out-of-state transports, and some dogs have gone to their new homes in Childress, Canyon and Wellington too. Connie Lindley, DVM, serves as the vet. Fundraising is a priority, and Duke is applying for grants.
Dirt work has started on a newly constructed shelter structure will contain eight kennels that open into eight individual dog runs.
“In eight weeks, we have about 40 dogs come through the shelter,” Thomas said.
Donations to the shelter can be made directly at Wellington State Bank or visit the WRS Facebook for Venmo instructions.
Brook Martin catered the evening meal for the Lions meeting. Guests for the evening included Maria Avalos, Christell Melendez, Joe Lee, Brian and Lori Moore and Erica Thomas.
Lion Larrie Black reported on the success of the Super Bowl pulled pork fundraiser. The club received a thank you note from Dorothy McGill for preparing the delicious meal.
The annual pancake breakfast will be held in April, and the pet vaccination clinic is set for Saturday, May 1.
Lions in attendance included Larrie Black, Nita Day, Fraya Hammons, Nancy Harris, Rex Henard, Neal and Bev Odom, Jeff Pastor, Linda Powell, Paul and Harriett Schaub, Rudie and Karon Tate, Jeff and Janie Thomas, Lindy Thomas and Margret Wood.
The Lions Club meets the first and third evening of each month at 7 p.m. For information on membership, contact Bev Odom at 806-205-1322.