Palmetto Animal League has announced plans to open an Adoption Center in late 2009 and is seeking donations of cash and building materials for the non-profit organization’s first permanent facility. Once the center is open, the Animal League will be seeking donations of animal care items and volunteers to help with animal care and office assistance.

Through the help of Bobby Glover, a Bluffton businessman, Palmetto Animal League has purchased and is planning to convert a 7,700 square foot facility in the Riverwalk complex on Route 170 into an Adoption Center. Three years ago, Mr. Glover donated five acres of Hardeeville land to the Animal League for a private no-kill animal shelter. The long-range plan is to build a separate shelter on this property, but for now the Animal League is planning to use the Riverwalk facility as an adoption center. Renovation at Riverwalk will begin shortly.

The Animal League will take this opportunity to incorporate the latest trends in shelter design which focus on the quality of the animals’ environment. Cats and dogs will experience a comfortable setting, allowing the animals to learn social skills and experience far less stress and boredom than in typical animal shelter conditions. The Animal League plans to offer human visitors a pleasant experience which the League believes will lead to more successful adoptions.

The Adoption Center will serve as headquarters for the Animal League’s operations, including rescue, adoption, minor medical treatment, community outreach, counseling and low-cost vaccination and microchip clinics.

The new facility will fill an important need as the local population increases and existing Lowcountry animal shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed and at capacity. The Animal League’s goal is to adopt out 500 animals in the first year. Every animal that passes through the doors will be spayed or neutered, microchipped and will receive a complete health screening.

Amy Campanini, Executive Director of Palmetto Animal League, is thrilled to finally have a centralized place for the organization. “The Animal League’s foster care program has been very effective since it was launched in 2002. With the help of caring and generous foster families and dedicated volunteers, we have assisted more than 5,000 dogs and cats in the Lowcountry. But in recent years, we became severely limited in what we could offer the community without a physical building,” says Campanini.

Although foster care will always remain an important part of the operation, the Adoption Center will allow the organization to expand, help a greater number of pets and pet owners, offer more services and implement progressive programs which are consistent with the Animal League’s vision that “no animal is left behind.”

The Animal League will fund the conversion, opening and operations of the Adoption Center through community outreach fund-raising activities and its on-going operation of its Animal House Thrift Shop.

Palmetto Animal League, PO Box 539, Bluffton, SC 29910. If you have a question about donations or volunteering, please call Amy Campanini at 843-227-2691. Palmetto Animal League is a 501 ( c) (3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Donations are very much appreciated.