By Dana DuGan
From bake sales, yard sales and raffles, an animal sanctuary is being born.
Tirzah Stuart, a veterinary technician, moved to Custer County in 2013, and before long noticed a scarcity of resources for the many stray, abused and unwanted domesticated animals, including horses, in that area. So she did what any animal lover with imagination would do. She gathered up a group of like-minded folks in Challis and started raising money, became a nonprofit, and bought 10 acres on which to build the Heart of Idaho Animal Sanctuary.
The organization’s mission is to “rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for animals in need of refuge.”
To be located about a mile north of Challis on Highway 93, the shelter will hold 22 dogs, about twice as many cats, and “hopefully, as we grow, we’ll take horses and larger animals,” said board president Becky Morgan. “We follow guidelines set out by ASPCA and OSHA.”
So far, the board of directors has raised $300,000 toward its building fund. But it needs $250,000 more to complete the project and outfit the facility. Last Friday they received their building permit and plan to start building within the next couple of weeks.
To continue with outreach, the 501c(3) organization will host a meet-and-greet in Stanley for information sharing, wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres, from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, on the lawn at Danner Cabins, 1 Wall Street, in Stanley.
For more information, visit www.heartofthevalleyrescue.com.