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Hernando Today

Humane Society Has Safer Entrance

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By TONY HOLT, Hernando Today

Published: February 21, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Maybe the five days of confinement in a concrete kennel with two hounds finally caught up with her.

Joanne Schoch, director of the local Humane Society, was teary-eyed when she thanked local volunteers and community activists for all of their efforts to make Wednesday's ribbon cutting possible.

The Humane Society of the Nature Coast has a new public entrance along Mobley Road. The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the new gate.

The entrance, along with a new white picket fence, kennels and parking lot, came courtesy of Leadership Hernando 2007.

This year, the class opted to carry out five tasks, none more important than the projects designated for the animal group.

"Every class has projects," said Paul Douglas, president of Leadership Hernando. "It usually does one ... Each one of us came up with a favorite, so we started with 14.

"We knocked that down to five, but we couldn't decide on one," he continued. "I stood up and said, 'Since we're stuck on five, let's do all five."

Leadership Hernando is an annual program where local business leaders learn about Hernando County and work together on one or more community service projects. It was developed in 1991 by the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce.

Among last year's projects were digging holes and laying down concrete for new kennels at the Humane Society, which is located at the corner of Mobley and Wiscon Avenue. The class also put in a new parking lot, installed a fence along the Mobley side and created a safer entrance.

"It was a worthy project," Douglas said.

The Leadership Hernando president was among those who have been "in jail" at the Humane Society. A volunteer shares a kennel with one or two dogs overnight. The project began six days ago and will end at 7 p.m. Friday.
Schoch is among those living with the dogs this week as part of the 24/7 project that was created to raise money for a new Humane Society building.

She is sharing a kennel (and cot) with two coon tick hounds - Bella and Fautch.

"They've never been apart since birth," she said of the two dogs, which have been at the shelter for at least two years.

The brother and sister hounds howled loudly at the people walking by the gates, but they were not the only ones. There was a booming chorus of barks among the 20 or so dogs inside the kennels.

Schoch's voice was hoarse, perhaps in large part for having to scream over the noise being made by the animals.

"People haven't actually seen ... what we have to work with," Schoch told the crowd that attended Wednesday's ceremony.

The kennels are undersized, there is not enough room for food storage and more space also is needed for the cats, she said. That is why the group is hoping to raise enough funds for a newer and bigger facility.

"Look at all the rust," she said, pointing to the fenced gate in front of her. "This stuff is wearing down."

She gave special thanks to Leadership Hernando for its dedication to make the new entrance a reality. That is when she began to cry. She had to take a break and drink some water before she continued with the presentation.

"It's safer for the public and safer for our pets," Schoch said, explaining the need for an entrance along Mobley. Traffic along Wiscon is becoming more congested.

Then Schoch turned to her kennel mates - Bella and Fautch.

"They are so sweet," she said. "They love to play. They are just the cutest, most cuddly animals. Look at those faces."

Douglas also bonded with the dogs, but his few minutes of freedom from being inside the cage were a welcome relief from the steel confines. He shook hands and mingled with everyone he could during the ribbon cutting.

"I've been there since Friday," said Douglas, who was feigning exhaustion for effect.

He looked at his watch.

"I've got 48 hours ... 17 minutes," he said with a belly laugh. "Naw, it's been necessary. Someone had to do it. I was honored when they asked."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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