A Shelter in Ruin, A Dream in Progress
Hannah Chatterton - The Forgottonia Times™
Last summer, Karen Blakeley stood before a faded Rocky statue that was part of Western Illinois University’s original “Rocky on Parade.” Its cracked paint and worn surface reminded her of another structure in town — the McDonough County Animal Shelter. Both, she thought, deserved restoration.
“I came up with an idea to fix both and to let one help the other,” Blakeley said.
That idea became Have a Heart Build a Dream, a fundraising project that has since raised about $25,000 for a new county shelter. Blakeley repainted the Rocky dog by hand, covering it with small, colorful hearts, each sponsored in honor of a pet. Every heart, she says, is “unique and some are imperfect — just like our pets.” When complete, the sculpture will stand proudly at the entrance of the long-awaited new shelter.
The need is urgent. The current shelter, built for a different era, struggles under the weight of modern demands. Once housing only a handful of dogs and cats — many of whom were euthanized due to limited space — it now cares for 60 to 80 animals at a time. Recently recognized as a no-kill shelter by the Best Friends organization, its mission is humane, but the building itself tells another story.
“The building is moldy,” Blakeley explained. “The water has caused significant rust, the cat room is tiny, and they’ve had to house cats in the garage. There is no room for storage of anything.”
Despite well-meaning efforts by past directors — installing sound baffles, upgrading flooring — the structure is deteriorating. Stress falls not just on the animals but also on the staff and volunteers who work daily in cramped, cluttered, and sometimes unsafe conditions. The result, Blakeley admits, is a negative public perception of a shelter that, in truth, saves lives every day.
The estimated cost for a new facility now stands between $1.2 and $2 million. With over $800,000 already raised and an agreement secured with the City of Macomb for land east of the current building, progress is being made, if slowly. Plans call for larger spaces, separate cat and dog rooms, indoor-outdoor runs, meeting areas, and isolation spaces for sick animals — a long overdue transformation.
But dreams require help. “Financially, donations are number one,” Blakeley answered when asked how the community can help. Volunteers, too, are always needed, especially those who enjoy deep cleaning, and those with grant writing experience. Other means to volunteer include walking dogs, or helping with fundraising. If you are able, please consider sponsoring a heart on Rocky through the Have a Heart Build a Dream Facebook Page, or donating directly to the Humane Society Building Fund through their website (https://www.hsmcil.org/donate/).
For the animals of McDonough County, every heart, every dollar, every hand extended matters.
