News : FOTSI Pays It Forward in Vinton

The first volunteer board of directors meeting of the Vinton Humane Society was held July 28, 1970 at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Frank Rocco. The board members were James Grupp, Dr. Frank Rocco, Mr. B.H. Myers, Mrs. Howard (Ellen) Stieglelmeyer, Mrs. W.E. Holland, Dr. O.R. Corbett, and Mrs. Kenneth Johnson. The meeting notes thru the years show many different local residents that served on the board and/or donated to the cause. In 1973 one of the original board members made a house available as collateral for a loan to build the humane society shelter building on County Home Road. This just shows the deep roots of caring for homeless animals that exist in the community.

Friends of the Shelter, Inc. was formed in 2005 by Kim Fiala, Leslie McKibben, and Donita Casey who met while volunteering at the pound on County Home Road. The volunteers expanded their reach and numbers to help save thousands of animals including dogs, cats, and occasionally other species. In 2012 they purchased a building on contract in Vinton to house the overflow number of cats and to have a nice environment for meets with potential adopters.

In early 2019 the FOTSI organization transitioned from hands-on animal care to focusing on keeping them out of the shelter system by promoting spay/neuter and helping people who may need financial assistance for that and to also offer grant opportunities to the many rescues/shelters in IA.

Two longtime FOTSI volunteers were asked if they would take over the intake and adoption part as well as any adopted that were returned. They are now called Better Together Animal Rescue, Inc. and work out of the FOTSI bldg.

The Friends of the Shelter, Inc. board believes that having a visible shelter in downtown Vinton at 211 W 4th Street has brought those concerned about, and those who love animals, together to make a positive difference, especially for cats.

With a respectful nod to the first organized volunteer group in the 1970s and especially to the late Dr. Corbett and to all past and present FOTSI board members, volunteers, and supporters who made this next chapter for FOTSI and BTARI possible, this is for you…..Friends of the Shelter, Inc. is Paying It Forward by awarding the transfer of ownership of FOTSI’s downtown building, with furnishings and supplies to BTARI.

“Our hope is that Better Together will keep this legacy going (far into the future) and pass on the appreciation of what was first begun by volunteers who came together with nothing but their desire to make a difference for animals in need. We, at Friends of the Shelter, Inc. are thankful for the opportunities given us these past 14 yrs to grow into a volunteer organization that makes a difference and look forward to broadening our services to help in more areas of animal welfare.” Donita Casey (www.facebook.com/friendsoftheshelterinc/