It is not often that the community and government work together to accomplish a common goal.

However, that is exactly what has happened in Putnam County with the construction of our new animal shelter. It culminates an eight year collaborative effort of volunteers and the county commission and started when Karen Haynes, wife of Commissioner Joe Haynes, started volunteering at the current shelter soon after Joe took office.

Seeing the deplorable condition of the shelter, she started a grass roots effort to build a new one. Largely through her efforts, the community joined together to raise money and awareness. The site for the new shelter was donated and many fundraisers and grants provided an additional two- hundred thousand dollars toward the project. The County Commission joined the effort, dedicating up to $2.3 million towards its completion.

Construction is now well under way, with an anticipated opening early next summer. And it was all made possible by everyone working together toward a common goal.