By Ruth Anne Maddox

Correspondent

Dedication to the organization and a love for animals for one couple means the Carver-Scott Humane Society is a step closer to having a place to call home.

Although the CSHS has existed since 1989, the organization doesn’t have a shelter facility and its animals are cared for in foster homes.

Jeff and Terri Fox of Shorewood have seen the challenges the CSHS faces and are committed to donating land to the CSHS and have placed an offer on a 4-acre plat near Shakopee to be used for that purpose. The property, located at the northeast corner of Emery Way and County Road 78 in Jackson Township, is zoned C-1 but the current zoning ordinance doesn’t address nonprofit animal shelters in the list of conditional uses allowed in a C-1 district.

“There’s nothing like it in Scott County right now,” Fox said of the proposed shelter.

That could be the reason that the matter was tabled when it came before the Scott County Planning Commission on Monday. County Associate Planner Lisa Schickedanz said that the commission wants some additional research done before rendering a decision. This includes fire protection requirements, setbacks from residential areas, the number of animals to be kept per square foot and whether the facility will have accommodations for larger animals, such as horses.

Although the Planning Commission meets monthly, Schickedanz was unsure whether the item would be on the next meeting agenda.

The proposed shelter would house animals indoors but the animals would be taken outside for daily exercise. The proposal also calls for an on-site veterinarian, public education events and volunteer opportunities.

The Foxes have been involved with the CSHS since 2003, starting out by fostering dogs, then working at adoption days and later joining the board of directors (Terri is a former member and Jeff is currently on the board).

In fact, of the 10 dogs the couple has fostered over the years, they adopted two and Fox admits he’s got an affinity to terriers and senior dogs. The dog they adopted most recently was with them for eight months, although the 19-year-old Yorkshire terrier was only expected to live a month when they took him in.

“His name was ‘Scrappy’ but I said I was going to change it to ‘Visa’ because I used my card so much at the University of Minnesota [for his care],” Fox said.

Fox said he had no idea the extent to which they’d become involved when they first began working with the CSHS.

Three years ago, Fox said, he issued a challenge that he and his wife would pay for the land if a suitable parcel could be located. The value of the donation is about $400,000.

“We’re very comfortable about our decision,” Fox said. “A facility is desperately needed in this area.”

A Site Selection Committee was formed and the members began visiting other animal shelters in the area to help brainstorm ideas on what kind of facility would be needed.

“I put about 5,000 miles on my car just driving around looking for land,” Fox said. He thinks the location that he found is ideal for the Humane Society, which serves Carver and Scott counties, as well as western Hennepin County. “It was important to find a spot located in the Shakopee area, off Highway 169 and [Highway] 41,” he said.

CSHS board president Bev Fiedler said they hope to secure the land and zoning before the end of the year.

“We’re optimistic,” Fieldler said. “[The Foxes] are working really hard to make this happen.”

It will then be necessary to build the structure and additional fund-raisers will be planned to help fund the construction.

Fox said that he’s in this beyond the land acquisition.

“I’m gonna see this thing through,” he said, pointing out that he’s been contacting national chain stores and seeking donations of products and labor. He said he’d love to see the shelter built in the course of a week — “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” style. “The dream is becoming a reality.”

He considers it a realistic dream that the facility could be up and running in 18 months.

And, building or no building, the CSHS mission remains the same: “To serve the communities in our area by providing adoption, foster care, education, lost-and-found and volunteer opportunities to strengthen and support the relationships between pets and people.”

More than 40 volunteers provide homes to fostered animals and their services will still be needed for animals that aren’t ready for shelter care — like litters of kittens that need to be bottle-fed or sick or injured animals that need round-the-clock care.

CSHS considers itself a “low-kill” organization and doesn’t euthanize based on the supply and demand of pet overpopulation. Rather, CSHS works with participating vets and only euthanizes animals deemed “unadoptable” due to severe health issues or irremediable behavior problems, such as aggression and biting.

Annually, CSHS fosters more than 300 animals — mostly dogs and cats, but birds, ferrets, rabbits and chinchillas find their way into their care, as well.

Once or twice each month, foster parents round up their wards and bring them to the Petco in Eden Prairie, where would-be forever homes are sought through adoptions. Adoptions would likely continue at Petco, as well as taking place at the proposed shelter.

To pay for costs associated with the animal care, the CSHS has fund-raisers each year, including “Walk for Animals” and wine-tasting events. It also sends out letters soliciting donations. Monetary donations and contributions of pet food, cat litter and other needed items also are accepted during adoption days. Also, shoppers can donate pet food to CSHS at Cub Foods in Shakopee, where they make the purchase while picking up their groceries.

To volunteer, donate or for information, call (952) 368-3553 or visit www.carverscotths.org.

Ruth Anne Maddox can be reached at (952) 345-6678 or rmaddox@swpub.com.