From the Humane Society of Clark County
The Humane Society of Clark County (HSCC) is providing an update to the community regarding its ongoing efforts to secure land for the construction of a new animal shelter.
After nearly two years of diligently searching for a suitable location, HSCC has encountered significant challenges. Despite evaluating properties identified by board members and the public, no viable location has been secured. HSCC has engaged with multiple entities in pursuit of potential sites, including the ARDOT District Engineer, the Clark County Fair Board, Arkadelphia Public Schools, the City of Arkadelphia, and Industrial Park officials. In addition, board members have reached out to numerous private landowners throughout the area.
Barriers to acquisition have included zoning restrictions, flood zone concerns, and limited access to essential utilities such as water, sewer, and infrastructure. Each site considered to date has ultimately proven unsuitable or unattainable.
The organization remains grateful to The McS Charitable Foundation for its continued support and shared vision. The foundation has pledged $50,000 in seed funding and has committed to matching up to $200,000 in funds raised by HSCC. However, the release of these funds is contingent upon HSCC securing an appropriate building site. The foundation’s stipulation that “HSCC must possess an appropriate site before any funds are distributed” was not anticipated to cause a two-year delay. However, these ongoing challenges have increased concern regarding the level of support required from the local community in order to move forward.
As these challenges persist, HSCC is renewing its call for community support before making any difficult decisions regarding these land acquisition issues. Individuals with expertise or resources related to land acquisition, development, or available property opportunities are encouraged to come forward. HSCC is currently prioritizing land purchase options and alternative solutions, as previous requests for donated land have not yielded results.
“This shelter is vital to the animals and families we serve,” Les Kent, Board Chairman, stated. “With the help of our community, we remain hopeful that a solution can be found.”
Shelter tours are available by appointment for those interested in learning more about current conditions and needs.
For more information or to assist with this effort, please contact Board Chairman and Interim Director Les Kent at 870-833-0431, or the shelter at 870-245-2579 after noon on weekdays. Inquiries may also be emailed to humanesocietyclarkcounty@yahoo.com. Community members may also contact any HSCC board member for additional information.
HSCC encourages the public to join in its mission to create a modern shelter facility that provides a safe and reliable path from abandonment to adoption for animals in need.