ARC in need of golf carts, volunteers

Story by Chuck Ballaro

The Animal Refuge Center is looking for new or used golf carts to help transport shelter pets around the property or to make general maintenance tasks easier

ARC is down to one cart after having as many as four Two carts became obsolete and another broke down, said Joy Patton, volunteer coordinator at ARC, necessitating request for donations

“There are about 250 cats and 50 dogs onsite We need to run them to the clinic for checkups. The carts allow us to get the animals back and forth, to do maintenance and landscaping,” Patton said.

“Our priority would be to get a cart with a flatbed ”

They would also like a six-seater to provide a mode of transport for taking potential donors around the grounds Monetary donations, to help with the purchase are also welcome.

Patton said ARC also is looking for volunteers to help out in the summer in the wake of seasonal residents heading back north

“We’re reaching out to folks to get more people in We are marketing with posters asking if people are bored with retirement and want to help with our many animals,” Patton said “There are also many people in the workforce who come on the weekends.”

Patton said they also are looking for foster par- ents for cats and kittens Food and litter are provided and the animals are checked out at the clinic

“It’s kitten season and we’re looking for people to foster kittens until they come of age, either at three pounds or three months when they get their spay and neutering surgery,” Patton said.

To make a donation or for more information, call 731-3535 and ask for Roxanne, shelter director; or Kurt, head of maintenance

To volunteer, you can fill out an application online at animalrefugecenter com Donations may also be made online