June 2, 2003 – The campaign to raise funds for the development of a state-of-the-art "animal care campus" to replace the longtime animal shelter in Estate Nadir got off on the right foot Sunday with pledges totaling $140,000.
In what was described as a historic Humane Society of St. Thomas event, more than 200 people gathered at a St. Peter Greathouse and Botanical Gardens brunch for the kickoff of the fund-raising campaign.
The new facility will encompass dog and cat kennels and play areas, a bird and iguana sanctuary, space for the Humane Society's popular flea market and an education center, along with headquarters for the Police Department K-9 Corps. Its cost is estimated at $1.1 million.
The campus will be located on about an acre of land in Estate Hoffman across Weymouth-Rhymer Highway from the entrance to Market Square East, donated by the Lockhart family. Knight Quality Stations owner and philanthropist Randolph Knight is the key player behind the project to see a complete revamping of the manner in which homeless animals are cared for and nurtured on St. Thomas.
Knight, who described his involvement as that of a citizen appreciative of the work of the Humane Society, described the effort on Sunday as a project to serve the community. "The government will not be providing any financial assistance" for the development, he pointed out.
There is one area of government involvement, Knight noted: the annual $75,000 contact that is primarily for the picking up of stray animals — although payment is chronically in arrears. Noting that the Humane Society is the only agency on island capable of performing that task, he commended the government "for having the foresight and being capable of understanding its own limitations, at least in this case."
Knight also has provided financial support over the years for the police K-9 program.
The targeted completion date for the new facility is the end of 2004, to coincide with plans for the federal highway project in Estate Nadir to go forward, he said. Much of the property where the current shelter sits has been condemned to make way for the highway project. It is expected that the Humane Society will receive an equitable offer on the entire Nadir property within the next 10 days, and the proceeds will go toward the new facility.
Knight said that to reach the desired goal and to ensure the success of the new animal care campus, several objectives must be accomplished. "The Humane Society provides an essential community service, and it must be supported," he said.
"We must increase the society's membership significantly," he said, calling for at least 500 members by year's end (there currently are 271) and for doubling that 500 to 1,000 by the end of 2004.
He also said the Humane Society's major revenue sources such as the Sunday flea market and the annual Valentine's "Doggie Ball" dinner dance must generate more revenue.
And he called on the society board of directors to hire staff to run the flea market like a business.
Knight stressed that it will be the individuals and businesses of the community that will be called upon to make the vision of the animal care campus a reality. He announced that he will be setting up the St. Thomas Animal Care Campus Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. It is a restricted matching fund of $500,000, he said.
"In essence, starting today, any new monies raised … will be matched dollar for dollar up to $500,000," he said, challenging the society board to match his pledge and raise the additional funds necessary to reach the campaign goal.
Sunday's fund-raiser generated $70,000 in pledges, which will be matched by Knight for a total of $140,000.
There are "naming opportunities" and a variety of ways individuals and businesses can assist in the fund-raising effort. For additional information, call the Humane Society of St. Thomas at 775-0599.
Editor's note: Jean P. Greaux Jr. is news and broadcast operations director for Knight Quality Stations.
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