This May Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter will be 50 years old! Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter was established in 1976. The facility was a hog pen that had 5 outdoor kennels.

         In 1980 a building was added with 8 indoor pens, an office and a room for cats. During this time Stephen Memorial was considered a pound. What is a pound? It is usually used to manage stray animals and provide a holding period for that animal's owner to claim them. If an animal is not claimed and is not adopted after a certain time, that animal would usually be euthanized.

         In 1991 Stephen Memorial was now labeled as a shelter! This means that more resources were available. Things like vet care and rehabilitation. The goal of a shelter is to find permanent homes for the animals.

        Stephen Memorial made big strides and by 2011 stopped euthanizing animals for space. A used trailer was added to the property. This trailer had extreme maintenance issues and was not up to sheltering standards. At this time a new facility was a must and fundraising began!

       2018 the new facility was built! The new shelter building can hold up to 31 dogs. There are 3 dog isolation kennels. These kennels are used to house dogs that are ill. We also have 3 dog quarantine kennels. These specific kennels are what animal control uses for bite cases or dangerous dog cases. As for the cat's side of the shelter, it can hold around 70 cats/ kittens. There is also an isolation room for sick cats to be placed in.

       With the new facility in place Stephen Memorial buckled down on resources for our community! Around 2024 Biscuits Cupboard was started. Biscuits Cupboard is a pet food pantry for people going through hard times. Our goal is to keep animals in their loving home and out of the shelter. Also, in 2024 thanks to the Golden Goose Club for donating seed money, our low cost spay/neuter clinic was started! Not only is the surgery discounted but so is the rabies vaccine that every animal receives. This program is now funded by donations and grants.

       All of us here at the shelter are so excited for what the next 50 years will hold for not just the Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter but also the future resources to help our community.