'Help even more animals': Wisconsin Humane Society to acquire Kenosha animal shelter

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin Humane Society is growing further south.

On June 1, the organization will make their 5th acquisition in 20 years, merging with a shelter that serves the entire Kenosha County area.

Safe Harbor Humane Society (SHHS) is the only open-admission shelter in Kenosha County.

With high demand, low funding and a small staff, they ran into financial issues that could have closed their doors.

"We were able to operate at what we could operate at, but we were never going to be able to grow, and so that's why we reached out to Wisconsin Humane Society," said executive director, Amanda Cutler.

After hearing from SHHS and conducting financial research, Wisconsin Humane Society agreed to acquire SHHS.

"They have the resources and opportunities to allow us to do more for our community, and the animals in our community," Cutler said.

The shelter will now be known as the Wisconsin Humane Society - Kenosha Campus, joining 5 other campuses across the state.

There will not be layoffs at either organization. In fact, they will likely hire more positions for the merger.

Cutler will remain as the shelter's executive director.

"Being able to offer health benefits and things is something we've always wanted to do, but have never been in the financial position to be able to," Cutler said.

Along with staff support, the acquisition will give the Kenosha campus access to WHS veterinarians.

"There's a veterinary shortage, and we are so fortunate to have as many vets on staff, 10 full time vets," said Alison Fotsch Kleibor, president and CEO of Wisconsin Humane Society.

In-house vets will allow for quicker spay/neuter and vaccine services.

"If we have an animal come in and we can't spay and neuter them in two weeks, that animal has to stay in the shelter then for two weeks before it can go to its home," Cutler said. "With us being able to expedite that process, we can help even more animals."

The merger expands Wisconsin Humane Society's footprint, allowing them to continue saving animals' lives across the state.

"It's an opportunity to learn what's going well in another community, and ultimately, we are stronger as a larger organization together with those learnings," Fotsch Kleibor said.