A Lake Minnetonka-area couple who made their money selling docks has agreed to write a $400,000 check to help create an animal shelter for the southwest suburbs, which have seen the number of animals in need increase along with its population of people.
Carver-Scott animal shelter plans get financial boost
A donor's check is helping a band of volunteers in Scott and Carver counties who take in animals needing homes.
December 8, 2007 at 3:35AM
"I probably put four to five thousand miles on my car in the past few years searching for the right site," said donor Jeff Fox, of Excelsior.
The right spot for the Carver-Scott Humane Society turned out to be in Scott County, just south of Shakopee, and close to the bridge to Chaska and Carver. The group has a purchase agreement on a piece of land and hopes to close on it in the next few weeks.
First, though, a request for permission to locate there goes before the Scott County Planning Advisory Committee on Monday. Under current zoning language, the building wouldn't be allowed on the site chosen, though similar uses would be.
Dakota County installed a permanent shelter nearly two decades ago. Now, a rapid increase in the population of people in Scott and Carver is leading to an equal growth in animals, with a need to find refuge for hundreds every year: About 250 cats, 175 dogs and a smattering of other small animals need help in a typical year.
A band of volunteers struggles to find space to house the animals, often taking them in their own homes -- at least temporarily. Eventually, most animals find owners through the Petco store in Eden Prairie, which hosts frequent pet adoption sessions in cooperation with animal rescue groups.
"We don't have enough foster homes," said Bev Fiedler, the group's president. "There's a waiting list."
Fox and his wife, Terri, have been active with the group for years and stepped in to write the check for the land. The next step would be a push for donors to pay for the building.
Fox, who grew up on Lake Minnetonka, created the Victoria-based firm Serv-a-Dock, specializing in high-end waterfront products such as docks, boat lifts and water toys. He remains a partner, but is no longer as active with it as he once was.
The 4-acre site for the shelter in Jackson Township is at the northeast corner of Emery Way and Hwy. 78. It's accessible from Hwy. 169 and Hwy. 41.
The county's planning staff is recommending approval, though its report on the project obliquely raises some potential sources of conflict with neighbors, including the potential for noise.
The report notes that animals mainly will be housed indoors, though they will be allowed out at times for exercise. And it mentions the possibility of setting mandatory times for that.
The Humane Society volunteers are delighted to have found the site, said Joan Callender, the site committee chair.
"Everyone said, 'Oh my gosh, in our wildest dreams we never thought the location could be that good.' When we run into overload, like we are right now, we will have a place."
David Peterson • 612-673-4440
