The Animal Shelter & Care of Jefferson County (AS&C) raised more than $6,000 at its annual “For the Love of Paws” fundraiser at Kleffner Ranch this past Friday, Feb. 21. AS&C has, over the past three years, raised more than $120,000 for its effort to construct and operate an animal shelter facility in Boulder to improve local animal welfare and control resources.
Presently, only the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office can enforce and cite municipal animal control violations, and state animal cruelty laws. Once the Sheriff’s Office becomes involved in an animal control case, it is presently required to transport the animal to Helena for placement into the Lewis & Clark County Shelter system. The Sheriff’s Office maintains a contract with Lewis & Clark animal control, through which it pays $125 per animal. Once the AS&C shelter becomes fully operational, the Sheriff’s Office will have a much easier time addressing animal control cases. Ultimately, AS&C hopes to replace the services provided by Lewis & Clark County, at a fraction of the cost.
AS&C needs an additional $15,000 to complete its animal shelter facility. Though it intends to fully open this June, a soft launch is planned for late March which will allow the shelter to start receiving and caring for dogs.
