ANDERSON, Ind. — Fearing that the Madison County Humane Society might run out of money soon, adoption coordinator Rhonda Estes is once again planning to lock herself inside the shelter.
Estes took up residence in the no-kill shelter last year in an attempt to raise funds for the organization after it was defrauded of $65,000 by its former treasurer.
She managed to raise $23,000 by locking herself in with the homeless cats and dogs for 30 days, but the funds quickly dried up and the shelter is once again on the brink of failure.
The Madison County Humane Society is supported entirely by donations from the community.
As the economy has weakened, Humane Society assistant director Linda Manderson said, donations have dropped.
The shelter currently houses 136 homeless pets.
It costs about $20,000 per month to run the facility, board member Susie Shieve said Tuesday.
The Humane Society has always struggled to keep its doors open.
“It’s been a struggle for 40 years,” Shieve said.
Manderson said the shelter could be out of money in February if deficits remain the same month-to-month.
Estes said the shelter has been operating in the red for every month over the past year with the exception of two months.
Fundraising chairman Katie Wilhoit said members of the organization are working constantly to try and secure donations.
“I was out hustling money today,” she said.
In hopes of raising enough money to keep the Humane Society afloat, Estes will lock herself in the shelter on Dec. 7 and will not leave the facility until Jan. 5.
She expects to miss Christmas with her family, but believes the sacrifice is worth it.
Raising the stakes, Estes said that if she reaches her fundraising goal of $10,000, she will get a tattoo of the society’s logo somewhere on her body.
Donations can be sent to the Madison County Humane Society at P.O. Box 637, Anderson, IN 46015.
Checks should note “lock-in” in the memo field.
The Humane Society can be reached at 644-6484.
Contact Brandi Watters: 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com
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