RED BLUFF— Proving Essentials for Tehama Shelter made one last donation to the Tehama County Care Center before closing shop.
The Tehama County Board of Supervisors unanimously accepted two donations of $78,151.64 and $51,341.56 from PETS The $78,151.64 are restricted funds to be used only for spay and neuter. Supervisor Matt Hansen amended the action regarding the $51,341.56 funds to go into the care center’s donation account and be used unrestricted.
“I think that the shelter could be maybe more efficient, and use this remaining money because the cost of spay-neuter has skyrocketed in recent years,” PETS Board Member Julie Sisneros said. “And now that you have the van, I think those monies can be used towards that, and maybe more animals can be taken care of that way.”
In 2022, the care center gained a mobile veterinary clinic. One of its services will be spaying and neutering pets.
Sisneros spoke on behalf of PETS during the agenda item. She shared its history and why it was making the donations.
Sharon Russell and another woman formed PETS around 2011 in response to a request from the previous animal shelter manager. Clarissa Ortner joined the team and became a great fundraiser and head of social media.
“I just can’t believe how much work these folks…they really carried PETS as far as I was concerned,” Sisneros said.
PETS did a quick estimate and found that it had taken care of around 2,000 dogs and 4,000 cats over the years.
In December, PETS closed its doors after completing its goal of helping the care center grow from a small department to a full-animal care center. Several years ago, Diane McCorkle passed away and left her estate to PETS to aid in the spraying and neutering of animals in the county. So, with a bit of money left in their coffers, PETS wanted to donate their remaining funds to the care center.
Supervisor Candy Carlson thanked PETS for their efforts to benefit the community.
“That is a tremendous number of animals that have either stayed neutered, and the work I hope will continue in our community,” Carlson said. “I know we have a lot of animal lovers in our community.”
Bill Moule joked that he had never owned a cat, but thanks to Russell, he now has three.
According to Animal Care Center Manager Christine McClintock, PETS will be missed.
“They spayed and neutered thousands of animals over the last 11 years that I have been here and contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the shelter every year, and that does not include the medical that they helped pay for fundraisers that they did for items and donate directly to the shelter,” McClintock said.