Gaining ground

Columbia County Humane Society President Donna Evans says her organization is closer than ever to building their long-awaited spay-neuter clinic and dog park in Appling.

//

Though they haven't picked a contractor and Evans isn't sure when construction might begin, the group is close to clearing one of its greatest hurdles.

"The driveway, it's been a nightmare," Evans said of the year-long ordeal to get utilities moved so the society can cut a driveway onto their 13.7 acre property on Columbia Road across from the Grimaud Place subdivision.

Crews from AT&T were on the property in July and the society is still waiting for Georgia Power and Comcast to move their utility lines out of the way. Evans said that because the group is acting as its own project manager to reduce cost, tasks such as moving utilities can take longer.

Architectural plans on the first phase, including a spay-neuter clinic and dog park, were recently completed, and the society is accepting bids for site work and construction. Evans said the clinic will likely cost about $200,000.

Evans said they've raised about $250,000 toward their initial goal of $300,000. But construction costs have risen dramatically since the group bought the property in December 2001 and they did not anticipate the $40,000 cost of the driveway.

The society has an ultimate fundraising goal of $1.5 million toward the project, to pay for a second phase that includes a shelter and educational space. Evans said they will soon launch a second fundraising drive, called Raise the Woof.

"It's coming and we're close," she said.

The humane society is an all-volunteer organization that seeks to find good homes for abused and abandoned animals.

Petco at Mullins Crossing holds adoption events each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about the humane society, call (706) 860-5020 or visit their Web site at www. columbiacountyhumanesociety.org.