Timeline for implementation and completion of Sierra's Haven
Year 2001
• Board meetings begin - June 2001
• First brochures printed and distributed
• Elected officers
• Began work on bylaws and Articles of Incorporation
• Worked Scioto County Fair booth to begin community awareness and distribution of
materials
• Plan and conduct first raffles
• Establish shelter membership dues
• Begin advertising on radio and through newspapers
• Worked a booth during Portsmouth River Days Festival
• Started sales of tee shirts
• Worked a small booth at local community gatherings such as Sorghum Making Festival
• Ran a question and answer column for one local newspaper
• Started construction committee
• Began contacting businesses and service organizations for donations of money,
materials, and construction equipment
• Filed for 501 3C status
• Designed a website for Sierra's Haven
Year 2002
• Continued fundraising projects such as raffle ticket sales, silent auction, book sales, tee
shirts, bread sales, yard sales and split-the-pot
• Received approval from Scioto County commissioners to lease land for the shelter
• Established additional committees: land clearing, grant proposals, planned giving, and
fundraising
• Pursued idea of beginning a bingo night to raise funds
• Began a dog walk
• Few board members
• Continued participation in annual community events such as the county fair and River
Days
• Held a Walkathon fundraiser in City Park
• Organized a "weekend walkers" for a corps of teenage volunteers (16 or older) to
exercise pets on Saturday and Sunday
• Joined the American Humane Society
• Checked on Director's insurance and liability insurance needs
• Developed relationships with major sponsors (Coca Cola, Pepsi, Subway, Damon's
Restaurant etc.) for Pet Walkathon activities
• Pursued relationship with 4-H groups for animal training projects
• Received commitments from business partners for different construction phases
• Developed and mailed first Sierra's Haven newsletter
Special Note: Sadly, Sierra, the cat for which the new shelter is named, died on December 19, 2002. She was cremated and her remains are in an urn. She will be interred at Sierra's Haven. A local monument dealer has offered to donate a stone marker -with Sierra's name- for the entrance of the shelter.
Year 2003
• Received additional commitments from business partners for general contractor,
building of dog houses
• Continued fundraising activities as listed above
• Continued participating in community events and celebrations to distribute information
and sell fundraising items
• Conducted a concert to benefit the shelter
• Established the mailing address of the new shelter
• Began clearing land (Dr. Counts and a few friends cut the brush and several trees
themselves!)
• Reviewed architectural drawings which were donated by a local architect
• Pursued the idea of using an ambulance as a mobile surgical unit (did no happen this
year, but will continue to work on this idea)
• Attended the Volunteer Expo at Shawnee State University
• Established an advisory committee
• Completed surveying the property
• Paid necessary Ohio permit fees (approximately $,200.00)
• Held a car raffle (board member donated the car)
• Worked on various construction projects such as power, water and gas connections
• Begin writing guidelines for shelter personnel
• Held pet adoption days
• Joined the Mixed Breed Club
• Established "Jake" as the dog mascot for the shelter
• Began applying for grants
• Discarded current website; will hope to establish one later
• Attended "Utilized Volunteers Seminar"
• Designed commemorative bricks to sell
• Obtained a charitable bingo license
Year 2004
• Started conducting bingo on Monday nights
• Finished preparing construction site
1. Excavated and removed trees
2. Pour foundation
3. Poured floor
4. Roughed in plumbing
• Started low-cost spay/neuter program
• Continued to take in adoptable animals as room would allow at clinic - vet checked,
vaccinated and spay or neutered all adoptions
•Began community education projects
Year 2005
• Hired a new project manager to complete the project
• Had the building under roof
1. Completed masonry work to lay blocks for the entire building
2. Worked with power company to place electric pole and terminal
3. Ran conduit for electricity
4. Hooked up drains and plumbing for water
5. Put in city water meter
6. Mounted bar joints for roof
7. Completed roof - front and back
8. Installed windows and doors
• Started website back up (is being done by board member)
• Began CELL-DOG Program with Ashland Prison
• Continued community education
• Continued low-cost spay/neuter program
• Continued bingo
• Constructed ten (10) outside dog runs (at Shawnee Animal Clinic until Sierra's Haven
opens)
• Continued fundraising efforts as stated above
• Continued to take in and adopt pets
Year 2006
• Completed installation of electricity, HVAC systems and plumbing
1. Installed 2 electric panels and completed electrical, phone and computer wiring
2. Installed 2 furnaces and 2 air conditioning units and all duct work for HVAC systems
3. Completed plumbing throughout building
• Had kennel floors resurfaced and sealed to correct drainage systems
• Completed and painted all interior walls
• Had insulation blown in all exterior walls
• Installed floor tile in rooms
• Installed phone system
• Installed security system
• Poured concrete around building for sidewalks and dog runs
• Excavated back band, place culverts and gaveled access roads and parking lot
• Plan and schedule open house (September 30th)
• Begin operations
1. Utilized isolation room for newly acquired animals for needs assessment
2. Treat those animals that need medical treatment
3. Groom all animals and prepare them for adoption
4. Begin spay/neuter operations at the shelter
5. Offer tours for local schools and community groups
6. Begin in-house education at the shelter
7. Open Pet Store
• Train staff and volunteers
