These days, new animal shelters don’t get opened very often.
About 90 minutes east of Joplin, Christian County residents have struggled to open a badly needed animal shelter. Similar situations exist around the state and country.
It’s a matter of money and available land. Neither of those is nearly as common as the stray dogs and cats that roam the Ozarks hills.
That’s why we’re pleased to see work begin on a new Joplin center.
Officials with the Joplin Humane Society on Tuesday broke ground on a new shelter north of Joplin. The new center will have more room for cats, outdoor puppy and dog kennels, quarantine rooms and a veterinary clinic.
When it is completed, the 20,156-square-foot building will be able to better handle the onslaught of animals coming into its doors.
Additionally, the shelter will be at a very visible location: right on North Main Street. Gary and Donna Hall, of Joplin, donated the land for the building, and also made a significant contribution toward the building’s $4 million price tag.
Leaders of a capital campaign say they have reached about 80 percent of a fund-raising goal. They are not done yet, but that was enough to get a construction loan.
Other areas are quick to ignore the problem of pet overpopulation. They may say their area needs a shelter, but when push comes to shove, they find excuses to keep from building.
But not Joplin.
A good piece of land was found, the proper zoning was obtained and people have given money to help build this needed, new shelter. That’s a sign that we’re willing to deal with our problems head on, instead of waiting for someone else to take care of them for us.
So, let’s take that one step further: Let’s take care of our own pets and make sure they are spayed or neutered. If we all take care of pet overpopulation on our own, then the Joplin Humane Society will never need a bigger shelter again.
Opinion
In our view: Community shows it cares
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
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Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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