News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton’s Treasured Souls Animal Rescue not expecting additional funding help at the county level.
Overton County residents say Treasured Souls Animal Rescue is in need of more resources to provide food, housing, and healthcare for the animals. Owner Maureen Schaffer said she had been working with city and county officials to hopefully find additional aid.
“With the county, you know they have a lot of deficit and when the money comes in they have to figure out how that money is best used and we understand that as a non-profit,” Schaffer said. “But at the same time, non-profits expect the possible grants, we rely on the grants from the cities and the counties in order to function.”
Schaffer said it is difficult without those promised grant dollars. She said relying on fundraisers can hurt business, particularly if the fundraisers to bring in much money.
Schaffer said another hurdle of her operations is capacity. She said not only is her rescue at capacity, there are very few places in the county that allow adoption events to take place.
“Two weeks ago we had a couple of dogs adopted at the Tractor Supply so we were happy about that, we ask for donations at our events so that helps a little bit,” Schaffer said. “But right now we’re up to over 60 dogs. I’ve had to turn away probably 75 dogs since the beginning of the year.”
Schaffer said she will continue to help the animals of Overton County and try to get more exposure for the rescue. She said the more that people know who they are and what they do, she believes that they will be able to continue the work more successfully.
