Media Releases
New Piatt County Animal Shelter Finds Home at the Pontious Farm
White Heath, Illinois (January 24, 2008) – Diana McPheeters and Kimberly Spark, founders of a newly formed not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County, have found a home for the fledgling facility in a building on The Pontious Farm in White Heath, Illinois.
The Piatt County Animal Shelter will care for animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
Historically these services were provided by the Animal Hospital of Monticello, even though the hospital’s contract with Piatt County Animal Control obligates it to care only for animals abandoned in Monticello and unincorporated areas of Piatt County. The hospital no longer has the resources to care for the increasing number of stray animals from other Piatt County towns.
Dr. Kay Lindsay, DVM, head of the hospital, has offered to work with the new shelter to provide veterinary care as well as spay/neuter and microchip services. And the entire hospital staff has worked to help the new shelter get started.
Diana McPheeters also heads Wild 4 Life, a not-for-profit, state and federally licensed, wildlife rehabilitation organization from her home. The University of Illinois and the Animal Hospital of Monticello provide medical services for the rescued mammals, small birds of prey, migratory birds, and reptiles native to Illinois until they are released back to the wild. Wild 4 Life, which will continue to operate from McPheeters’ home, cares for an average of 300 animals annually. The self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady” also runs a feline rescue service, finding homes for vaccinated and neutered cats and kittens.
“Piatt County has had a serious need for a shelter for a very long time,” said McPheeters. “Neighboring counties cannot take Piatt County animals because of overcrowding, and the Animal Hospital of Monticello is taxed for space. Kim and I decided we needed to do something.”
Kimberly Spark is a certified veterinary technician who works full time at The Animal Emergency Clinic in Champaign. She served her internship at The Animal Hospital of Monticello. Spark and her son also volunteer at Wild 4 Life and McPheeters’ feline rescue service.
The Pontious Farm is a popular you-pick berry and herb farm established in 1968. Richard and Nancee Moster Pontious are leasing a building to the Piatt County Animal Shelter for one dollar per year. “Anyone who has ever visited The Pontious Farm knows how much Nancee and I love animals,” said Richard. “We’re glad we can help Diana and Kim focus on their mission as the shelter gets rolling and grows.”
Diana and Kimberly, who plan to expand and remodel the building in phases, estimate they need at least $100,000 to open the doors. Their ultimate goal: create a full-service humane society/SPCA organization.
The new Piatt County Animal Shelter will be a registered 501c3 organization. It needs and welcomes donations of any kind, including money, building supplies and services, pet supplies and services, and the equally valuable donation of time. Donations are tax deductible.
On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at 6:30 p.m., at the Pizza Hut on Bridge Street in Monticello, IL, McPheeters and Spark will host a meeting for anyone interested in the shelter's future.
For more information, contact Diana McPheeters at 217-620-5253, 306 N. Buchanan, Monticello, IL 61856, or piattanimals@hotmail.com.
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Our Furry Friends…We Rescue Their Lives…They Rescue Our Hearts!
Mailed to 400 members of Home Builders Association of East Central Illinois
The Problem: There are no facilities to care for the increasing number of stray and abandoned pets in Piatt County (directly west of Champaign County).
Historically, veterinary facilities and services were provided by the Animal Hospital of Monticello, even though the hospital’s contract with Piatt County Animal Control obligates it to care only for animals abandoned in Monticello and unincorporated areas of Piatt County.
The animal hospital no longer has the resources to care for the increasing number of stray animals from other Piatt County towns. And neighboring counties are too overcrowded to take in Piatt County animals.
The Solution: The newly formed Piatt County Animal Shelter is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County. Its short-term goal:
- Establish and run a facility to care for small animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
- Educate the public about the most important way to solve the problem of stray and abandoned animals: spay/neuter your pets.
The shelter is well on its way, with a home for the fledgling facility in an old honey house leased for $1 per year from The Pontious Farm, a you-pick berry and herb farm in White Heath, Illinois.
Its long-term goal: Establish a full-service humane society/SPCA organization with the capability to care for both large and small animals.
How You Can Help: The Piatt County Animal Shelter is NOT a government agency. It receives NO federal, state, or county funds. To achieve its short-term goal, the Piatt County Animal Shelter needs donated building materials and services to expand and remodel the leased facility into a true shelter, including (but not limited to):
Backup generator
Bathtub
Cinder block
Concrete
Drywall
Electrical supplies
Exterior doors
Fencing
Gutter system
HVAC system |
Insulation
Lumber
Nails
Pedestal sink
Plumbing supplies
Poly panel sheeting
Roof trusses
Roof sheeting
Sand
Screws |
Septic system materials
Shelving
Shingles
Stainless steel kitchen sinks
Stainless steel laundry sinks
Tile backer/cement board sheeting
Toilet
Trim
Windows |
To donate building materials and/or services, contact Rick Pontious at 217-840-7714 or richardpontious@netscape.net. Or visit www.piattanimals.org for more information.
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Piatt County Animal Shelter Events for April and May, 2008
White Heath, Illinois (March 31, 2008) – The Piatt County Animal Shelter is holding/participating in the following events to raise awareness and money to expand/remodel an old honey house into a small-animal shelter on The Pontious Farm in White Heath, IL:
Kiss a Duck—April, 2008 / Schools in Piatt County, IL. School principals, including Eric Hillman of Lincoln Grade School in Monticello, IL, dare their students to raise money for the Piatt County Animal Shelter. Watching your school principal kiss a duck, perform the chicken dance, or maybe more: Priceless!
Pampered Chef—April and May, 2008. Launch www.pamperedchef.biz/dawnsite. Click Order Products. In Host's First Name/Organization, type Heather. In Host's Last Name, type Terhark. Click Search for Host. On the Search Results page, click PC Animal Shelter/Heather Terhark and start shopping! Make sure you ship your purchase to your location, not the host location. A percentage of the purchase price goes to expanding/remodeling the shelter building. During the month of May, a percentage of the purchase price also goes to the fight against breast cancer.
Lions Club—April 14, 2008, 6:30 p.m. / Library, Monticello, IL.
Volunteer Meeting—April 16, 2008, 6:30 p.m. / Brown Bag Restaurant, Monticello, IL.
Monticello Business Expo—April 22, 2008, 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. / Community Building, Monticello, IL. Buy Paw Prints, scrunchy pet collars, and pet bandanas. All proceeds go to expanding/remodeling the shelter building.
May Market—May 3, 2008, all day / Downtown Monticello, IL. Buy Paw Prints, scrunchy pet collars, and pet bandanas. All proceeds go to expanding/remodeling the shelter building.
Cookout—May 17, 2008, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. / County Market, Monticello, IL. Net proceeds go to expanding/remodeling the shelter building.
Handcrafted jewelry sale—May 31, 2008 / Market at the Square, Urbana, IL. All proceeds go to expanding/remodeling the shelter building.
Other events currently in the planning stages: Bowlathon, dinner and silent auction, golf scramble, and 5K/10K run.
About the Piatt County Animal Shelter
The newly formed Piatt County Animal Shelter is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County. Its short-term goals:
- Establish and run a facility to care for small animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
- Educate the public about the most important way to solve the problem of stray and abandoned animals: spay/neuter pets.
Its long-term goal: Establish a full-service humane society/SPCA organization with the capability to care for both large and small animals.
For More Information
See www.piattanimals.org, or contact Diana McPheeters at piattanimals@hotmail.com or 217-620-5253.
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K9 Sound Solutions Offers Dog Obedience Training to Benefit Piatt County Animal Shelter
White Heath, Illinois (April 4, 2008) – K9 Sound Solutions of Monticello, IL, is offering three different levels of dog obedience training courses to benefit the Piatt County Animal Shelter. All courses start May 1, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., at 1202 East 1800 North, Monticello, IL, 61856. The fee for each course is $90, which covers seven weeks of group lessons, a six-foot lead, and instructional materials. All proceeds go to expanding/remodeling the Piatt County Animal Shelter on The Pontious Farm in White Heath, IL.
All courses are based on positive correction and reinforcement techniques.
The seven-week Kindergarten/Puppy Training course is designed for dogs under six months old. Teams (dogs and their caretakers) learn what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behavior, and the following commands: sit, down, stay, wait, and come.
The seven-week Family Companionship course reinforces a dog’s self-control by adding time and distance elements to already learned commands. It also teaches the following new commands: leave it and wait. Prerequisite: none.
The seven-week Novice course further reinforces a dog’s self-control by teaching teams to handle distractions (such as those in a dog park). It also prepares teams to qualify for the International Therapy Dog test. Therapy dogs provide affection and comfort to people in stressful environments. Prerequisite: Family Companionship course.
About K9 Sound Solutions
Barbara A. Garlick, RN, LAT, CBC, has owned and operated K9 Sound Solutions for 28 years. As a Companion Behavioral Counselor, Barbara analyzes and treats unwanted canine behavior. In addition, Barbara is a canine massage therapist, certified obedience instructor, certified pet groomer, and member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and the Association of Animal Behavior Counselors.
About the Piatt County Animal Shelter
The newly formed Piatt County Animal Shelter is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County. Its short-term goals:
- Establish and run a facility to care for small animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
- Educate the public about the most important way to solve the problem of stray and abandoned animals: spay/neuter pets.
Its long-term goal: Establish a full-service humane society/SPCA organization with the capability to care for both large and small animals.
For More Information
Contact Barbara A Garlick at 217-762-9088, 217-714-2910, or
K9SoundSolutions@hughes.net
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Monticello School Students Support the New Piatt County Animal Shelter
White Heath, IL (April 23, 2008) – Students at Monticello Lincoln Grade School and Monticello High School are raising money to help build a new animal shelter at The Pontious Farm in White Heath, IL.
In early April, Monticello Lincoln Grade School Principal Eric Hillman challenged his students to give back to the community. He told his kindergartners, first-graders, and second-graders he'd kiss a duck, dance the chicken dance, and possibly perform other "outrageous" acts if they raised money to support the new Piatt County Animal Shelter.
His students accepted the challenge and held up their end of the bargain with their April pocket change drive.
On Friday, May 2, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., Principal Hillman will hold up his end of the bargain in a school assembly in the Monticello Lincoln Grade School gymnasium.
A representative from the Decatur Raptor Center will also entertain students with a large bird of prey--possibly an eagle. This bird of prey is not a kissing candidate!
The Student Council at Monticello High School is sponsoring a Hats On Day fundraiser to support the new Piatt County Animal Shelter.
For a donation of $1.00, any Monticello High School student can wear a hat to school on Friday, May 2, 2008. The Student Council will match all donations.
The Student Council will also hold contests for unusual hats, such as largest, ugliest, craziest, etc. Monticello High School teachers will judge.
In addition, the Student Council will have a drawing in which all hat-wearers are entered to win a $50 gas or food gift card.
The media is welcome to attend both events. The best time to see Monticello High School students in their millinery finery is during lunch period between 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
About the Piatt County Animal Shelter
The newly formed Piatt County Animal Shelter is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County. Its short-term goals:
- Establish and run a facility to care for small animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
- Educate the public about the most important way to solve the problem of stray and abandoned animals: spay/neuter pets.
Its long-term goal: Establish a full-service humane society/SPCA organization with the capability to care for both large and small animals.
For More Information, Contact...
- Principal Eric Hillman, Monticello Lincoln Grade School at hiler@sages.us
- Teacher Jennifer Cekander, Monticello High School at cekje@sages.us
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Ladies Nite Out to Support the Piatt County Animal Shelter
White Heath, Illinois (June 2, 2008) – The Piatt County Animal Shelter is sponsoring a Ladies Nite Out to raise money to build a new facility at the Pontious Farm in White Heath, IL.
Ladies can indulge themselves in wine tasting, appetizers, desserts, and a variety of goods and services designed specifically for women.
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Place: Best Western Hotel, Monticello, IL
Cost: Free admission
About the Piatt County Animal Shelter
The newly formed Piatt County Animal Shelter is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County. Its short-term goals:
- Establish and run a facility to care for small animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
- Educate the public about the most important way to solve the problem of stray and abandoned animals: spay/neuter pets.
Its long-term goal: Establish a full-service humane society/SPCA organization with the capability to care for both large and small animals.
For More Information
For more information, contact Toni Wendler at twendler@illinois.edu or 217-390-7059.
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The Pontious Farm Kicks Off Blueberry Season with a Piatt County Animal Shelter Kitten Shower
White Heath, Illinois (June 23, 2008) – The 2008 UPIK blueberry season at The Pontious Farm in White Heath, Illinois, is almost here.
"Everything has been late this year because of the cool, rainy spring," said Rick Pontious of the Pontious Farm. "But we should have enough ripe berries to formally open the blueberry field on Saturday, June 28th."
On the same day, the Piatt County Animal Shelter will kick off the opening of their portable facility at The Pontious Farm with a Kitten Shower & Adopt-a-thon.
"A kitten shower is like a wedding shower," said Diana McPheeters, shelter board president,"except we're asking people for pet food and supplies to help care for more than 50 cats and kittens we're fostering."
Shelter volunteers will be available at the Pontious Farm every Saturday from June 28th through August 30th to show adoptable animals to potential fur-ever families.
"The portable facility will give the shelter an actual presence at The Pontious Farm until our permanent structure is finished," said Peggy Currid, shelter volunteer. "We want people to know the Piatt County Animal Shelter is 'in business' at The Pontious Farm now!"
About the Piatt County Animal Shelter
The newly formed Piatt County Animal Shelter is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County. Its short-term goals:
- Establish and run a facility to care for small animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
- Educate the public about the most important way to solve the problem of stray and abandoned animals: spay/neuter pets.
Its long-term goal: Establish a full-service humane society/SPCA organization with the capability to care for both large and small animals.
About The Pontious Farm
For 40 years, The Pontious Farm has delighted families with insecticide-free crops, petting zoo, and picnic and play areas. 2008 u-pick season crops include strawberries, cherries, gooseberries, rhubarb, blueberries, black raspberries, blackberries, sweet corn, peppers, red raspberries, and tomatoes.
For More Information
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