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No-Kill Shelter In Jeopardy Of Closing
Shelter Has Accepted Animals For 114 Years

POSTED: 1:39 pm EST February 23, 2007
UPDATED: 7:24 pm EST February 23, 2007

MERIDEN, Conn. -- One of the state's largest no-kill animal shelters is in jeopardy of closing its doors.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Katy Zachry reported that the Meriden Humane Society needs to raise $87,000 in the next three months to continue serving hundreds of dogs and cats.

Zachry reported that many of the animals the organization receives are left outside the building in boxes or bags and that some were left near death.

The shelter is a no-kill facility, which means no animal leaves until it's adopted. The Meriden facility has never turned away an animal in need.

"In a no-kill shelter, there's no time limit to put on an animal's life," said Alexia BelPerron, of the Meriden Humane Society.

The funds to pay for the shelter's operations are limited and if it doesn't raise the money needed, it will have to close.

"It's really the vet bills, paying the staff and paying for the medical treatment for the animals; even a lot of our food gets donated," BelPerron said.

The shelter's staff said that since Channel 3 aired a story about the shelter's problems Thursday at 11 p.m., it has received many donations, but still needs more.

The shelter announced that it will stay open all weekend, around the clock, to help raise awareness.

"It's been a great day," said shelter manager Marlena DiBianco.

DiBianco said that dozens of people flocked to the shelter to adopt and make donations Thursday.

The shelter said many of the animals show up badly injured or sick. The cost of care for them and the healthy animals is staggering.

"It's not the animals' fault they're here, and even if you're not an animal lover, you know that," BelPerron said.

Generous donations have kept the shelter open for the past 114 years. If the Meriden shelter is forced to close, officials said they will send the animals to smaller no-kill shelters around the state.

More Information:

# Meriden Humane Society: 203-238-3650


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