The Humane Society of Sumter County’s coffers are $1,905 richer, and that’s a good thing for the dogs, cats and other ‘creatures great and small’ in their care.
The Ladies of Bridgeport at Lake Sumter published a cookbook of personal recipes this past summer. The elegantly bound, loose-leaf edition, cleverly titled ‘Bridgeport at Lake Scrumptious,’ was created to share members’ favorite new dishes and old family recipes — and for fundraising purposes. The publication is dedicated to neighbor, Barbara Bauer Peterson, for her commitment to the Bridgeport at Lake Sumter ‘family.’
Club leader, Joyce Edmonds, presented a check for the cookbook sale proceeds this week at the club’s monthly meeting to chairman Bill Gottschalk and Claudia Labbe, who volunteer at the shelter.
“I was due at the shelter in Lake Panasoffkee this morning,” Villages resident and VHA president, Bill Gottschalk, said, “to meet with contractors who will be building improvements to our facility. But we are just going to have to be a little late. We are very appreciative of all the good work these ladies have done, and we wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
“Our neighborhood started to come together in 2005,” Edmonds explained, “as building began at the back of the acreage. We are surrounded by beautiful wildlife preserves and a championship golf course. As the first pilgrims moved in, we began to socialize and mingle on warm summer nights, and thus began the warm camaraderie we share now.”
The group coordinates monthly or semi-monthly get-togethers for coffee, lunch, bucket and keg parties, golf and a monthly social. Members also play pickleball, bridge, mah jongg, poker, and organize bike rides and other activities. “We also get involved in philanthropic events,” Edmonds added, “Our members are generous with their time, talents and monies.”
The Sumter County Humane Society shelter is about 16 miles from The Villages, driving south on Hwy. 301, and is open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It is closed Saturdays and Sundays.
Labbe invited the club members to their Christmas party at the shelter, and offered tours of the facility. “We would like everyone to come out and see our animals and how we run our shelter,” Labbe said. “Our animals are very different from humans — they don’t talk back!”
The Sumter County Humane Society/SPCA has been in existence since 1982 and operates solely on donations from individuals, businesses and foundations. “We celebrated our thirtieth anniversary in 2012,” Gottschalk, who has been involved for about six years, said, “and we are leading a charge to end animal cruelty.”
It is also a goal of the non-profit organization to battle animal overpopulation; and rescue pets and larger animals from abusive situations, neglect, and natural or man-made disasters. “Right now, we have some birds, about 25 dogs and 25 cats, but no farm or other large animals,” Labbe said, “but we will care for any animals that are in need. In addition to running the shelter, they assist low income pet owners as much as possible.” In answer to a question, Labbe explained feral cats and other wild animals come under the aegis of Animal Services.
“We are always in need of pet food, laundry detergent, other cleaning supplies and old bedding,” Gottschalk said, “and we accept empty computer ink cartridges, cell phones, cans and other recyclable items, which we turn in in exchange for money. We have a drop-off point for donated items at Buffalo Ridge,” Gottschalk said. Pickup hours are 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“We have one lady in The Villages,” Gottschalk revealed, “who is a super-couponer. She has brought us at much as 1,000 pounds of dog food at one time in her small car, and has donated lots of detergent as well. She gets unbelievably low prices leveraging her couponing skills.”
November is National Shelter Appreciation month and also National Adopt a Senior Pet month. A contact number for the Humane Society is 352 793-9117.
