LD Class gives Animal Shelter Puppies a New Home

The Leadership Douglas Class of 2012 celebrated the completion of their service project with a Chamber Ribbon Cutting on April 25. The class raised funds, renovated, and designed a Puppy Room for the Douglas County Animal Shelter.

Leadership Douglas is a program of the Douglas County Chamber Foundation. It selects diverse and qualified individuals to provide a structured program that enhances leadership skills and community involvement for the betterment of all citizens, businesses, organizations and governments in Douglas County. Each year twenty-five community and business leaders within Douglas County are chosen to participate in that year’s Leadership Douglas class. Throughout the year, the class meets once a month to explore and gain a better understanding of the community in respect to government, education, public safety, non-profits, and the arts.

One aspect of the Leadership Douglas program is for each class to choose a community service project that is to be completed between September 1st and April 1st. The Leadership Douglas Class of 2012 explored several worthwhile causes within the Douglas County community, but ultimately decided to transform a storage shed at the Douglas County Animal Shelter into a space specifically designed to house puppies that are ready for adoption. Throughout the current economic situation, difficult choices have been made by families, and one choice that is often made is to give up the family pet. The Douglas County Animal Shelter has experienced an increase of owner turn-ins which includes puppies. It is important for the safety and health of the puppies to be held separate from larger dogs and cats, but due to space and resources, the animal shelter was unable to provide this need. The Class of 2012 felt it was important to the community of Douglas County to assist the animal shelter in providing this need.

The Leadership Douglas class was responsible for acquiring donations, both in materials and monetary, developing the plan for the puppy room and ensuring the transformation maintained the proper building codes, and providing the labor to complete the project. The twenty-five member class spent five Saturdays working on the transformation and it was completed March 24, 2012. A check for $1,700 was presented to the Animal Shelter for items they need to provide the best care to the sheltered animals.

The Leadership Douglas Class of 2012 would like to thank all of our sponsors but especially The Home Depot of Douglasville for the building materials and Dependable Services for donating the Heating and Air Conditioning unit.

For more information on Leadership Douglas, contact the DC Chamber at 770.949.6087 or visit the website at douglascountygeorgia.com.