Northeast Missouri Humane Shelter to offer a new community walking trail

HANNIBAL, Mo. – Those at the Northeast Missouri Humane Shelter hope to bring the community together through dogs and exercise.

The shelter plans to break ground in September on a new paved walking trail that will be about a quarter of a mile path. The path will be located on what is now a grassy area in front of the shelter’s parking lot.

Elise Blue, executive director at the Northeast Missouri Humane Society, said the shelter has been fundraising for the project for about four or five months. The website reports they have raised $1,107 of the $15,000 funds needed.

The walking path will be a place volunteers can walk the dogs, and it will also be open to the public.

“We are super excited about this walking trail. It will be a safe place for people to come and walk their dogs or just come out and walk,” she said. “A lot of people walk their dogs at Sodalis, which is an amazing place, but it’s on the other side of town for some people. Also, when people walk on sidewalks around the community, not everyone likes dogs and some people are scared of them or allergic.”

Shady rest areas will be provided by sponsored benches along the path and native trees and bushes. Blue said the Missouri Dept. of Conservation is helping to plan fast growing foliage to plant along the path.

Activities encouraging agility and more will be along the path, which Blue said will help prepare shelter dogs for human interactive and adoption.

“This is just going to be a welcoming place for them to come out and visit and have a seat,” she said. “We have this amazing property we call home, so we want to utilize in ways that will draw the community our facility and realize we are not just a housing facility for homeless animals.”

Blue said the shelter wants to be a place for the community to enjoy and lean on during hard times.

The shelter offers services not only for adoption but to help pet owners retain their animals including spay and neuter assistance, covering up to half the cost of medical expenses. They also have cremation services for pets, which provides the family with their pets ashes in a wooden urn.

The shelter also has a food bank, which will be operating again as soon they receive a delivery.

Blue said anyone in need of help for their pets should call the shelter and see how they can help.

The Northeast Missouri Humane Society is primarily funded by memberships, donations, fundraisers, endowments and monetary gifts through memorials. Hannibal Councilman Stephan Franke recently made a donation to the walking path.

“I love everything they do. Babies and puppies are two of the best things in the world and the people who provide for them need our support and love,” Franke said. “Beyond that, my donation is just as much to support the Northeast Missouri Humane Society as it is to support Elise. She is just one of the best Hannibalians there are.”

To donate to the Northeast Missouri Humane Society visit their website. You can also drop donations off at their building at 7135 Veterans Road in Hannibal, or mail checks to PO Box 205, Hannibal, Mo. 63401.