COCHRANE— The Cochrane and Area Humane Society has recently been on the receiving end of a number of donations that came in after they announced the need for funding to cover the cost of two emergency surgeries for a pair of dogs who arrived at the shelter in rough condition.
“They both had injuries to their legs. We’re not sure where the injuries came from or what happened, but they were pretty extensive and they required a specialized surgery that we weren’t able to do in the shelter,” said Lisa Kedian, communications coordinator with the Cochrane and Area Humane Society. “We reached out to one of our partner veterinary hospitals and luckily they were able to do the surgeries for these two dogs.”
Kedian said many of the animals come into the shelter with various medical needs, and it can be very difficult for the shelter to take on the costs of care for the animals.
“On occasion, we have to reach out and ask for help, and when we do that, we’re always met with such incredible compassion from people,” she said.
One of the two dogs that came in, Sarah, had recently had puppies, which only added to the level of care that was needed.
Kedian said the community response was incredible, and the shelter reached its goal of raising $6,000 within weeks.
The donations covered the costs of the surgeries, recovery therapy and general care costs associated with housing the dogs.
“When the word got out John Costigan from Springfield Kennels stepped up and he donated the entire amount that we had asked for. At this point, we had already reached our goal, because, like I said, the generosity of our community is just always ongoing. People are always willing to be so helpful,” Kedian said. “We so appreciate it and we just don’t have the words to thank him for that.”
Just a few weeks after that, the Cochrane and Area Humane Society was chosen to receive Two Pharmacy’s Community Roots donation program.
Each month, Two Pharmacy tallies up its sales and donates it to a local non-profit.
In March, they donated $4,300 to the Cochrane and Area Humane Society.
“With the year that everybody has been having, not just people in their own struggles, but businesses as well. For businesses and business owners to be so generous and giving, and understanding that we’re all going through a hard time, but they’re still willing to give and help others, it just makes us feel so … Overwhelmed,” she said.
With the shelter having to cancel many of its crucial fundraisers in the past year, Kedian said, the donations could not have come at a better time.
“We still push on, we’re still doing what we need to do, our volunteers still come together, and they’re so dedicated,” she said. “Our staff is incredible, the volunteers are incredible, and when you have a community that’s willing to give and help when you’re in need, that really shows the Cochrane spirit.”
