LEASH, Inc was established in 2015 to improve the life of the animals at Lake County Animal Shelter. The founders, Whitney Luckhart, Lisa Richardson & Michelle Ballings, met and bonded as volunteers at the shelter.
Our first fundraiser was in the fall of 2014. Many of the dogs did not have elevated Kuranda beds to keep them off the cold concrete floors of the kennels. A successful garage sale and community support provided Kuranda beds for ALL of the shelter dogs.
LEASH, Inc was conceived with the purpose to provide a variety of opportunities for individuals to volunteer and to contribute positively to the homeless animals at the shelter.
It is our mission, as an independent non-profit organization, to work in conjunction with the Lake County Animal Shelter, other local shelters, and animal advocacy groups to enhance the quality of life and shelter living conditions for shelter animals and to improve the prospect of these animals transitioning to a forever home. In working together, we will increase the rate of live release, decrease the shelter animals’ length of stay, and provide a more pleasant experience for the animals entrusted to the care of the shelter.
We will realize this goal through charitable fund-raising, community outreach, volunteer and foster recruitment, medical sponsorships, and promotion of adoption. L.E.A.S.H., Inc. encourages compassion, enrichment, and care for shelter animals in our community.
Our Mission
Our History
2019 LEASH Activity
LEASH Volunteers were very busy in 2019! Following are some of the highlights for calendar year 2019:
- 3,589 hours have been spent in walking dogs at the Lake County Animal Shelter. That translates to over 14,000 dog walks and exceeds our 2018 annual amount of 2,730 hours by 31%. Great job walkers!
- 2,068 hours were spent in fostering cats which is more than double the number of hours for 2018.
- 279 hours were spent by volunteers assisting with Caturday (e.g. Community Cat Spay and Neuter) in 2019.
- Over 850 cats have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped as part of the Caturday program between July 2018 and December 2019.
- TNR Community Education was conducted several times during the year and Lake County residents were loaned traps and provided training on how to use them. This was instrumental in getting the community cats to the shelter for Caturday events.
- Chip Clinics were held on May 9, June 29, August 22 and October 24 with 200 microchips issued to Lake County resident pets.
- 40 Free Spay/Neuter certificates were provided for dogs of Lake County residents unable to pay for this service. Events were held on November 9 and December 14.
- LEASH provided nearly $11,000 in veterinary medical assistance to animal shelters and rescues in Lake County, $1300 for free microchips to pets of Lake County residents and $2,150 direct financial assistance to Lake County rescues for equipment and related expenses.
- To help pay for those and other services, LEASH received $10,250 in grants and nearly $13,000 in donations.