donated a beautiful barn to FMAR that would have otherwise been demolished. The only catch was FMAR would have to move it to the shelter. Gasper Recycling was just down the road from FMAR and were awarded the contract to tear down the other structures on that same site so they offered their services to move the barn for free. It took a lot of team work and planning but in just over a year we had the barn in place and ready to secure to the ground on the property. We were now into 2009 with the same goal and dream to add another addition to the current shelter so our volunteers and visitors would have a real bathroom and office. FMAR continued to find fundraising opportunities and with our volunteers and supporters we had raised enough funds and found enough experienced people, including the support and determination of C.A.L plumbing and heating, to add a bathroom and storage area to the smaller barn. It was an exciting time and a huge step up from our rented portable bathroom with no heat in the winter.
2009 was coming to an end but the excitement and determination of our group remained high and our goals focused. It was time to focus back on the donated barn, and begin to turn it into a Cat Haven. The heavens were on our side with an anonymous donor in hand and a capital campaign underway we were able to get the barn secured to the ground, the frame up, sand brought in, rough plumbing installed, walls ready for new drywall and the cement quoted and on target for spring.
FMAR is determined to have the Cat Haven completed and our felines and canines enjoying spaces that are all their own before the fall of 2010. We will continue to dream and plan and with a lot of love, faith, hope, determination, teamwork, support and belief in our mission to protect animals and residents by promoting a healthy and safe environment for all each and every one of our dreams will soon become a reality.
You may ask what is next for FMAR? With the addition to the existing shelter finished and our cats and dogs settled in and comfortable in their new environments, we will concentrate on adding a dog park on the property so we can share our mission of creating a healthy and safe environment for all. Once the dog park is up and running we will again turn our focus to renovating the larger 8200 square foot barn into something we can share with our community.
We will continue discussing how we can move forward with exciting programs and opportunities to engage and invite our community to learn more about great pet care, animal behavior, and community programs. Keep tuned in because we are sure you won't want to miss our progress. Thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged us to continue when things were tough. Keep watching the best is yet to come!!