Humane philanthropy benefits family, community

The Humane Society of Wickenburg is in the process of bringing an important asset to the Wickenburg community and surrounding area, with a goal of providing a new animal shelter facility.

Since acquiring land in which to build the facility, the Society has also obtained design plans and has determined future staffing needs. Now the Society is reaching out to the generous Wickenburg community and asking for financial assistance.

“You may ask yourself how does this project benefit me, my family, my community?” asked Society board member Walter Blodgett.

“The benefits are many. Wickenburg is a growing community and with any growing community, the question of safety is always a concern. It is important to control our homeless animal population for the safety of our children playing in the parks and anyone who wants to enjoy a nice walk around our beautiful town.

“Our police have had to try to capture these animals and spend much of their time and resources transporting them to out-of-town shelters or a local vet who has been kind enough take them in,” Blodgett added. “Because of the growth in the community, our police are already stretched too thin, as are our local vets.”

Blodgett said that too often he has heard stories of a person coming across a stray animal on a weekend or holiday, but then he or she is told there is no one available to come and get the animal for at least a day or two.

“In my opinion, that can be a very dangerous situation for either the individual or the animal,” he said. “A 24-hour, 7-day-a-week facility such as what we are developing is needed for the community to provide a home for these animals where they will live and be treated humanely until someday someone will decide they want the animal to live with them.”

The Society said it has and will continue to provide valuable program assistance to the community such as vaccinations, neutering, and spaying of animals.

These programs help curb the spread of disease, as well as the population of unwanted pets that are let loose to become homeless. “We will also help those animals that have been abused and taken away from their owners,” Blodgett said. “Where else would they go for an extended period of time and be treated humanely with love and respect until a proper owner is found?”

Blodgett said individuals and their families will be rewarded through the benefits of a safer community as well as the fulfilled feeling that they have contributed to the humane treatment of helpless animals. They may also be rewarded through valuable federal and state income tax deductions.

The Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Therefore, cash and non-cash contributions may qualify as deductible charitable donations.

In general however, there may only be a tax benefit if deductions are itemized and then to the extent only that what is in excess of the respective standard deduction.

The best method of charitable giving depends on each individual’s unique situation, and it can be a complicated tax and estate planning matter.

Therefore, any advice as to the method of giving that best fits should come from qualified advisors. For more information on how to donate to the Humane Society of Wickenburg, call 684-8801.

Print this story

Email this story

Click ads for more information