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Animal lovers hugged Sammie's Friends founder Cheryl Wicks Tuesday after the Nevada County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to begin negotiating with her group to run the county's animal shelter.
“There will be a minimum in cost savings the first year, but future costs will be capped,” said county executive office analyst Tina Vernon. The county spends about $300,000 yearly to run the shelter.
The board also approved a $25,000 contract with Yuba Community College for veterinary services in which students will learn how to conduct medical checks and spay and neuter procedures from now through June 30.
It was a major day for Wicks and Sammie's Friends; she and supporters have been talking to the county for more than a year about running the facility next to the McCourtney Road transfer station.
Wicks estimated Friends spends about $50,000 per year at the site already on animal medical costs beyond the $100 per animal the county pays. She began the shelter's volunteer program in 2001 and ran it until 2007.
One of the volunteers is Pamela Gorman, who said Wicks and the Friends “changed the culture over there. The animals are kinder and happier now, and the shelter is clean.”
Sammie's Friends “have made a huge difference” in the animal community,” Dr. Jon Peek of the Grass Valley Veterinary Hospital said.
Previous plans to build a no-kill animal shelter were dropped when the Friends dramatically increased the adoption rate at the county facility, Peek added.
The longtime area veterinarian was “ecstatic” about the additional deal with Yuba College for its costs savings to the county and the opportunity to teach veterinary students how to properly spay and neuter animals.
Sgt. Rich Fevinger of the Sheriff's Office, who currently runs the shelter, said the shelter could save 25 to 30 percent on medical costs with the college contract.
“We won't have to go outside for local vet care like now,” Fevinger said. If Sammie's Friends takes over before the end of June as is expected, members also will be able to see whether the college contract works out, he added.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4237.
“There will be a minimum in cost savings the first year, but future costs will be capped,” said county executive office analyst Tina Vernon. The county spends about $300,000 yearly to run the shelter.
The board also approved a $25,000 contract with Yuba Community College for veterinary services in which students will learn how to conduct medical checks and spay and neuter procedures from now through June 30.
It was a major day for Wicks and Sammie's Friends; she and supporters have been talking to the county for more than a year about running the facility next to the McCourtney Road transfer station.
Wicks estimated Friends spends about $50,000 per year at the site already on animal medical costs beyond the $100 per animal the county pays. She began the shelter's volunteer program in 2001 and ran it until 2007.
One of the volunteers is Pamela Gorman, who said Wicks and the Friends “changed the culture over there. The animals are kinder and happier now, and the shelter is clean.”
Sammie's Friends “have made a huge difference” in the animal community,” Dr. Jon Peek of the Grass Valley Veterinary Hospital said.
Previous plans to build a no-kill animal shelter were dropped when the Friends dramatically increased the adoption rate at the county facility, Peek added.
The longtime area veterinarian was “ecstatic” about the additional deal with Yuba College for its costs savings to the county and the opportunity to teach veterinary students how to properly spay and neuter animals.
Sgt. Rich Fevinger of the Sheriff's Office, who currently runs the shelter, said the shelter could save 25 to 30 percent on medical costs with the college contract.
“We won't have to go outside for local vet care like now,” Fevinger said. If Sammie's Friends takes over before the end of June as is expected, members also will be able to see whether the college contract works out, he added.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4237.
