Carson Animal Services to discuss goals, role in building new shelter

Carson City supervisors are set to hear a presentation today from the Carson Animal Services Initiative on its role in helping to get a new city animal shelter built, as well as other goals.The nonprofit has raised $23,000 since its founding in September and has an ambitious fundraising goal to help the project, said chairwoman Lisa Schuette.“We want to raise $2 million,” she said prior to the scheduled CASI appearance before supervisors, which will follow testimony on an animal-control ordinance.Raising money and building the shelter might take a couple of years, Schuette said. She projected the cost in public-private money at $4 million and added that grant money will be used, given the size of the project.“Right now,” she said about the fundraising efforts, “it’s about building a name and getting our name out there.”Schuette, a health teacher at Carson Middle School, called the plan a “beautiful blending” of community effort, adding that land and preliminary building drawings are in hand.CASI has hosted several fundraisers, including last year’s Bark, Whine & Dine and an October 5K9 run, she said.On Friday, CASI will hold an event billed as the Love Our Pets! Wine Tasting at the Governor’s Mansion annex. Schuette said 160 tickets were sold at a cost of $25 each for the gathering, which will include wine, chocolate and other food. It runs from 5-7:30 p.m. Future fundraising will include an Easter event, another Bark, Whine & Dine dinner/silent auction this summer and another 5K9 run, Schuette said.Longer-term plans include a fundraiser marathon in 2014 aimed at bringing in outside runners and helping local businesses, she said.