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Community rallies around shelter

BY BECKY MALKOVICH, the southern

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:52 PM CST

BENTON - With each bag of cat food, case of canned dog food, or $20 bill checked in by Mary Crawford at the temporary headquarters of Franklin County Animal Control Wednesday came fresh tears.

"I'm just overwhelmed," said Crawford, an employee of the facility. "People are so giving."

And giving and giving and giving, judging from the haul taken in by Wednesday afternoon.

The back half of a county barn is taken up by donated food, the one-room temporary office/cattery, formerly the facility's storage shed, is filled with much of the same and more. Even a truck parked outside the shelter had its bed quickly filled up with donations offered in the aftermath of Monday night's devastating fire that killed 42 cats and 15 dogs and destroyed the facility's building.

"It's a wonderful thing, a great thing," FCAC Supervisor Jarrett Broy said. "They started showing up early this morning and they haven't stopped."

Also nonstop was the ringing of the facility's telephone.

"It's really something. I've got more than 50 calls to return already, but the phone won't stop ringing long enough for me to make any calls," Broy said at 11 a.m. Wednesday. "I've gotten calls from not just here in Southern Illinois, but from Missouri, Kentucky, Utah, all over the country. Everyone just wants to know how they can help."

Among the many offering help to the animals and facility were:

l Betty Hammond of Benton, who teared up as she explained why she delivered cases of canned food, bagged food, bowls and blankets to the shelter. "We just love animals. This is so terrible. I hate that it happened," she said.

l The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri which will hold a food and supply drive at participating Schnucks supermarkets this weekend.

l Eileen Fry of Benton, a self-described "lunatic" about animals, who dropped off a $1,000 check. "What can I say? I'm a big animal lover," Fry said.

l Jackson Door and Window of Jackson, Mo. The company will donate windows, doors and labor when construction of the new building starts.

"People say they need to give," Broy said. "I've seen people in here who I know need it more than we do, but they want to give anyway. People are taking away their own Christmases to give to the animals."

Franklin County Board Chairman Randall Crocker said all money donated will go for its intended use. Animal control in the county has "two specific budget lines: one is for the building and the other for general care and maintenance of the animals and animal control has authority over them. Any monetary donations will go exactly where people want them to go," Crocker said.

Monetary donations may be dropped off at the facility, 13163 Oddfellow Lane in Benton, or sent to FCAC, P.O. Box 967, Benton IL 62812.

Other items needed are Pine-Sol cleaning solution, hand and bath towels, storage containers, office supplies, cat litter scoops, large trash cans and mini-fridges for medications. The facility will be closed Thanksgiving Day but will open from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. Regular hours, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, will resume next week. For more information, call 439-9197.

beckymalk@gmail.com / 927-5633@gmail.com / 927-5633