Gasoline sales to benefit Humane Society
Walter "Wally" Tereshinski has a soft spot for dogs, partly because of Mr. Peanut, his 5-year-old Pekingese.
Wally Tereshinski, owner of Wally's of Evans gas station and convenience store, has decided to donate 10 cents per gallon of his gas sales in July to the Columbia County Humane Society. The organizations president, Donna Evans, helped put together the fund-raiser that they hope will raise more than $5,000.
Photo By Jim Blaylock
Tereshinski, who owns Wally's of Evans and Wally's of Hephzibah gas stations and convenience stores, has found a way to help find homes for other area hounds.
For each gallon of gas sold at the Evans location, 4519 Cox Road, Tereshinski has agreed to donate 10 cents to the Columbia County Humane Society.
"There is a dog magazine called Dog Fancy, and there was an article in there that said your local humane society always needs help, always," Tereshinski said. "That is when I looked them up in the phone book and gave them a call."
He was right.
The Columbia County Humane Society has big plans, including constructing their first permanent facility on 13.7-acres on Columbia Road.
The humane society bought the property in 2002 across from Grimaud Place and plans to construct a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, shelter and dog park, said Donna Evans, the society's president.
Evans said the past two years of fund-raising has netted $35,000 toward the board's initial goal of $300,000, which will pay off $108,000 on the land and the clinic and dog park.
"The only way this will happen is if the people (who) live in the area want it," Evans said. "It is for the community. They'll have to support it. And $300,000 is not a lot of money unless you don't have it. If you talk to people who move into this area, they are amazed that the humane society does not have a building with the income level of this county."
After that is accomplished, Evans said the shelter, slated to cost $1.5 million, is designed to be expanded in stages.
Tereshinski said he likes the fact that the humane society does not euthanize animals. If the society raises enough funds for the shelter building, the shelter could be open seven days a week to find permanent homes for more animals.
Just as Evans was making out a list of businesses to contact in hopes each one would donate $1,000 for the land cost, Tereshinski called with his offer, which he hopes will raise more than $5,000 for the humane society.
"I answered the phone, and here he was," Evans said. "I was definitely excited. It was like our prayers being answered. A lot of times it only takes one person to get the ball rolling ... I'll be over there filling up."
Evans has 10 dogs of her own in addition to an average of 30 fostered dogs waiting for homes through the humane society's weekly adoptions at SuperPetz.
"She is so busy taking care of the animals, she can't raise the money she needs," Tereshinski said. "There are dogs everywhere that need homes."