The Pet Education and Training Care Campus proposed by Friends of Cookeville/Putnam County Animals continues to gain support from the community.The initial goal of phase one of the campaign, which is to raise enough funds to secure the property on which to build the P.E.T. Care Campus, has already been accomplished, thanks to donations.
“This campus will be dedicated to animal welfare, spay/neuter, education, training and having fun with your pet,” said Linda Westin, president of Friends of C/PC Animals.
The location of the future campus is a 9.75-acre site adjacent to Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion off Gainesboro Grade.
According to Friends of C/PC Animals, in 2009 the local animal shelter was forced to euthanize 3,595 of the 4,779 dogs and cats it took in because of a lack of homes.
“Right now with animals multiplying so fast, you can’t adopt your way out of this,” Westin said.
In addition to managing pet overpopulation, the campus will provide a park-like atmosphere for visitors and their pets and create opportunities for Pre-Vet and Agriculture students to have hands on experience with animals.
Having raised the $225,000 needed to purchase the property, the fundraising campaign lacks $150,000 needed for site work before phase one is completed.
However, with an estimated total project cost of $3.5 million, Friends of C/PC Animals still requires significant aid in order to make the campus a reality.
Donations may be made online at www.friendsofcpcanimals.org or may be sent to Friends of C/PC Animals, P. O. Box 2615, Cookeville, TN 38502.
