Shelter continues recovery, rebuilding after fire Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 05:15 AM By Victor O'Brien
Killeen Daily Herald

The dogs and cats of the Second Chance Animal Shelter will have a new home in a familiar place when they return to the shelter.

The Killeen shelter continues efforts to rebuild and repair this week in the wake of a Nov. 1 fire that killed 99 cats and 15 dogs and crippled the shelter's operations.

Donations from the community, awards from national donors and the hard labor of area residents has the shelter poised for renewal, Ginger Smith-Holmes, shelter manager, said Wednesday.

A benefit concert Saturday is next on a list of fundraisers that have enhanced the shelter's reconstruction efforts.

Otitis Media Productions has organized a family-friendly concert featuring rock, blues and country musicians. The concert, which runs from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Carl Levin Park in Harker Heights, will be free to the public, but organizers hope the community will donate to the shelter.

The concert comes after Fish City Grill in Harker Heights raised approximately $400 for the shelter Tuesday. Diners packed Fish City Grill on what is usually a slow day for the restaurant, General Manager James Cardona said.

Iams gave a $5,000 check to the shelter Tuesday, Smith-Holmes said.

The shelter's staff and volunteers have been helped by several Fort Hood soldiers during the reconstruction. The soldiers have installed dry wall, carved wood, painted walls and chipped tile during the past two weeks.

The work offered several soldiers, who serve as carpenters in the Army, a rare chance to gain hands-on experience while not deployed, Sgt. Michael Green said Wednesday. The soldiers gain almost all of their experience when deployed with the 62nd Engineer Battalion.

More volunteers remain the shelter's most pressing need because of the amount of woodwork and animal care, Smith-Holmes said.

The shelter continues to adopt animals on the weekends at PetSmart in Killeen and Petco in Harker Heights. Large dogs are available at the shelter.

The shelter's full opening will take at least six weeks, while the face-lift continues.

"We want to continue to grow and do wonderful," Smith-Holmes said.

Contact Victor O'Brien at vobrien@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7468.