CASA moving forward

Camano Animal Shelter Association takes in strays and is an arm of Island County Animal Control. PHOTO BY JEREMIAH O After an abrupt change in Camano Animal Shelter Association’s (CASA) board of directors, the shelter is back on its feet, said Martha Huyler, president.

Five members of the board of directors resigned earlier this year, Huyler said, and CASA has spent some time regrouping.

“The people who left were very good volunteers,” Huyler said, “but we’re looking forward, not looking back.”

Huyler credits “lots of community help” with the shelter’s success. She said CASA has new volunteers and is partnering with the Camano Plaza IGA and local firefighters to bring fundraising events to the area.

CASA formed in 1998 as a place to board dogs impounded by Island County for the requisite five-day waiting period. For this purpose, the county supplies a building and minimal maintenance, water, electricity, and about $25,000 per year.

Over the years, though, CASA has expanded to take strays, surrenders and cats. For these services, they receive no extra assistance from the county, said Huyler, who was treasurer for two years. Consequently, CASA’s annual budget greatly exceeds the funds they get from the county.

To sustain itself, CASA relies on contributors and fundraisers, including their annual auction. “Friends of CASA,” a small group of volunteers, plans these events, Huyler said.

She noted that the past several auctions have been very successful, and have allowed the shelter to build a contingency fund. Huyler added that it would be foolish, though, to spend that money down when they don’t always know where the next month’s money is coming from, or if it’s coming.

“We’re trying to be good stewards of our money,” she said.

That being said, concerns have been raised about the building’s lack of insulation and climate control, and it’s been questioned whether CASA should spend some of its contingency money on these improvements.

Tegan Locker, shelter manager, said, “CASA’s money goes to the care of animals, not to maintenance on facilities we don’t own.”

“The animals,” she continued, “are not in poor shape.”

Locker said that on occasions when the weather is terribly cold, or hot, “staff and volunteers have taken the animals home.”

Huyler was a bit more blunt.

“People like to say, ‘let’s get a new building,’” she said. “No. Let’s just keep it going.”

Huyler declined to comment on any personnel issues mentioned in a letter appearing on page A4 this week, except to say, “Why dredge all that up now? There comes a time to put your own things aside and take care of the animals.”

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629- 8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews.com.