By Stacy N. Hackett
Posted: August 14, 2008 2 a.m. EDT
The Humane Society Naples (HSN) in Naples, Fla., recently received two major donations that will support the shelter’s renovation and expansion plans. In particular, the pledges will fund the administrative offices and a community cat room.
“These gifts are greatly appreciated and very needed for this campaign,” said Michael Simonik, HSN executive director. “There will be many pets’ lives saved and improved because of the generosity of these fine supporters.”
A donation from Peter and Elsa Soderberg will establish the “Soderberg Family Adoption Center Administrative Area” in loving memory of William G. and Sonya F. Allyn. The Allyns had adopted pets from Humane Society Naples, and their family wanted to memorialize them and their love of animals with this pledge. The administrative area will house the shelter manager and adoption counselors’ office suite.
The “Sargent and Sebastian Community Cat Room” will be supported through a recent pledge from Jim and Nancy Gibson. The Gibsons, long-time supporters of HSN, donated the funds in memory of two of their best-loved pets. The room, one of the new resident cat areas at the expanded shelter, will allow cats to roam and play while awaiting adoption.
Renovations to the shelter are expected to begin in January 2009 and be completed in nine months. So far, the shelter has raised $1.5 million for the project.