A San Pablo animal shelter being forced to vacate its San Pablo Dam Road facility by June says it has land for a new home, but it needs to raise $200,000 to prepare the site and relocate its buildings.
Jelly’s Place President Julie Bainbridge told Richmondside by email Tuesday that they have a potential property in Richmond, but it needs paving and sewage work. The plan is to move the facility’s existing buildings and outdoor kennels to the new spot, which hasn’t been specifically identified.
Supporters are urged to create their own fundraisers or host donation drives at workplaces or schools. There’s also a Jelly’s Gofundme that has raised $29,680, with the organizers saying: “Anyone who’s seen a heart of gold at work knows they don’t always get a fair shake. So we are reaching out for your support. We have a short timeline to help Jelly’s Place land on their feet and continue to provide life saving medical treatment and matchmaking services for their furry clientele.”
On Jelly Place’s website, Bainbridge, who has been lobbying elected and state and county officials about the shelter’s dire plight for months, expressed gratitude for their support.
“A lot of people have pitched in and helped in different ways, since without Jelly’s Place, our community would have been negatively impacted in a big way,” Bainbridge wrote.
Aside from the at-capacity Jelly’s Place, which told Richmondside last summer it’s constantly full — providing shelter at any given time to about 100 cats and dogs onsite and an additional 30 animals in foster homes — the primary option for stray animals is Contra Costa County Animal Services in Martinez, which is also at its limits, with 995 intakes in January and February.
If Jelly’s were to close, that would leave just one physical shelter in west Contra Costa County, Milo’s Foundation in Point Richmond, which rescues dogs and cats from high-kill shelters, saving an average of 1,400 animals annually, according to its website. While Milo takes applications for its rehoming services, such as in cases of surrender or the death of an owner, it does not accept strays, referring them to the county as is required by state law.
Jelly’s Place must leave its leased home of seven years because Caltrans says it needs the property, which sits along Interstate 80.
Chevron told Richmondside in a statement Tuesday that when it heard Jelly’s was looking for a new location, it reached out to explore potential ways it could help.
“We are excited to be in preliminary discussions with them related to possible new locations, and it is inspiring to see how the Richmond community is rallying to support them,” the company said by email.
