When animal lover and Batesville resident Linnie Williams died a few years ago, memorial contributions were given to the Ripley County Humane Society. At a Sept. 14 open house at its Osgood shelter, her family viewed how the money has been spent – to create Linnie’s Place, a fenced area with trees and playground equipment. “She was big on training and rehabbing animals,” recalls volunteer Donna Huffmaster.

“We use it to exercise dogs,” reports board President DeDee Holliday. Agility training takes place when equipment is set up. “The dogs love it,” says board member Jan Barnes.

“It’s also a place for people to bring their dogs (and/or children) to meet the new dog they're looking to adopt” to see how they get along, adds board member Diane Chapman.

A new building finished in June offers indoor-outdoor kennels (each with chewproof beds) for 24 canines – 16 large and eight small dogs or puppies. The space gives pooches waiting to be adopted more room and more privacy than before.

The building also contains a break room for volunteers and paid workers, laundry room, surgery suite and testing and training room. “We temperament test all dogs 6 months and older,” Barnes explains.

To fund the structure, Holliday and other board members begged area entities. “We said, ‘We need a one-time gift.’ We showed the stats of how many animals we take. We did well,” notes Holliday, with Ripley County commissioners allotting $60,000, the Gilmore and Golda Reynolds Foundation and Rising Sun Regional Foundation $50,000 each, People Assisting Animals In Need $18,770 and Ripley County Community Foundation $5,000. She marvels, “Three PAAIN individuals gave $5,000 each!”

About $15,000 more is needed to finish it off with sidewalks, interior tile and kennel tops.

Housing 42 dogs and 16 cats, “we're just about at capacity,” says Chapman. Photos of pets waiting to be adopted can be viewed at Southern Indiana Save-A-Pet (www.sisaveapet.com) and Petfinder (www. petfinder.com).

“It's the economy,” theorizes the president as she pets 12-year-old Freckles, the canine mascot who’s always lived there. (“We won't adopt her out because she's too sweet.”) During hard times, people aren’t able to feed and care for their pets so they bring them to the shelter or allow them to stray. The problem is compounded because adoptions have slowed as well – people can’t afford the fees.

Finding more foster homes means strays may not have to be turned away if the shelter is full. Individuals and families must be “willing to take dogs and cats in and work with them and socialize them with other pets and/or children,” says Holliday. The purpose is “just to give them a taste of what it's like to live in a home so they'll be ready" to be adopted, says Chapman.

If an animal’s photo has been posted on the Internet for awhile and it still is at the Osgood facility, it may be moved to another rescue group, no-kill shelter or foster situation “to get a chance somewhere else.”

While the society has a dozen "good, hard-core” volunteers, more are needed. Please see box for contact information.

The president adds, “We could always use more money. We're like everybody else. Our utilities and everything else are going up.” Tax-deductible checks may be sent to Ripley County Humane Society, 1202 W. County Road 150 N., Osgood, IN 47037.

Funds are needed for a kitten room (Kitty City is inhabited by grown cats) and a grooming room upgrade.

Pet supplies also may be donated. “We've taken a dog fence. We will take anything you can use for dogs and cats you don't need anymore,” says Treasurer Erika Effing. The wish list: gently used blankets and towels; kitty litter; canned dog and cat food (dry food is donated); pet toys; toilet paper; paper towels; bleach to prevent diseases and other cleaning supplies; leashes and collars.