The Animal Shelter & Care of Jefferson County’s (AS&C) annual community fundraiser was held at the Kleffner Ranch Feb. 9. Over 40 people attended the event, helping the group’s effort to raise $46,000 this year. The event was supported by labor and material donations from Jefferson County Businesses, including Montana City’s Hardware Cafe and Montana City Bar and Grill. Desserts were prepared by area students. The event also featured both a silent and public auction, and live music from the band Marley in the Pocket.
“We have a lot ahead on our calendar, but this was a successful start to the year,” said AS&C organizer Cheryl Haasaker. “We’re about halfway done with our shelter project, and are on schedule to finish sometime this summer.”
AS&C has existed in some form since 2008, and has already spent $58,000 on its shelter renovation project, according to Haasaker. The group sees the shelter as a necessary expansion to its fostering and care operation, as it is effectively responsible for a significant volume of the county’s animal control work. This includes identifying and returning lost pets, and finding permanent homes for abandoned animals.
The group will hold an online auction via Facebook group of concerned global citizens on Mar. 1. This is the second such auction the group has participated in, and it hopes to exceed last year’s fundraising of $5,000. AS&C also will hold a bingo night on Mar. 12, in partnership with the Missouri River Brewing Company in East Helena.
