Members of the American Legion Riders of Hopedale present the Harrison County Dog Pound and Humane Society of Harrison County with $500 donations each on Saturday, December 7.

CADIZ — Two local nonprofit animal organizations received an early Christmas present this year thanks to a group of motorcycle-riding veterans.

The American Legion Riders of Hopedale Post 682 presented the Harrison County Dog Pound and the Humane Society of Harrison County with donations totalling $1,000 last weekend – $500 to each organization. The donations were in memory of Robert Reppart, a former member of post 682 and an avid animal lover.

Cindi Yanez, president of dog pound and humane society and dog warden of Harrison County, said she accepted the generous donations on behalf of the humane society, while a dog pound volunteer accepted on its behalf.

“Neither organization could do what it does without these donations,” she said.

The legion raised the funds by holding their annual Robert Reppart Memorial run in June, on the weekend closest to his birthday. Reppart unexpectedly passed away in 2018, Marcy Carter, legion treasurer said.

“We do an annual run in his memory that benefits Christmas for Veterans, the dog pound volunteers and the humane society,” Carter said.

“(Reppart) had a big heart for both veterans and animals.”

The legion will continue to do the run every year in Reppart’s memory, she said. The money donated to the nonprofits will be used for various necessities that will benefit the animals of the county.

“The humane society uses their money for emergency vetting for neglect and abuse cases, as well as we have a spay/neuter program in the county. We pay $50 toward a spay or neuter of cats; stray cats, feral cats and people’s cats,” she said.

The donation made to the dog pound volunteers will go toward the spay and neuter of the dogs residing at the pound, Yanez said. The pound’s newest facility, which opened in August 2017, can house up to 20 dogs. It has housed more than 150 dogs this year.

The humane society deals with abused and neglected animals, Yanez said. The society does not currently have a facility, thus it relies on fosters to house the animals.

“Most of what we do is try to educate people. A lot of times the neglect is not from someone being mean, it’s because they just don’t know, so we do a lot of educating the public,” she said.

The dog pound volunteers take care of emergency and preventive veterinary care for the dogs of the pound. Yanez said it became a formal 501c3 nonprofit organization approximately 4 years ago. Prior to that, volunteers paid for the care of the dogs out of pocket. A 501c3 is a charitable organization that is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of the public,” she said. “Neither organization could.”

Yanez said that any donation either organization receives, whether it be $20 or $200 is very much appreciated and helps tremendously with the health and welfare of the animals it cares for. Veterinary care of the animals can be very pricey, she explained.

“It’s the larger donations that really enable us to do more,” Yanez said.

The $500 donation will cover the cost of a spay or neuter and vaccines for two dogs, she said.

“We are always accepting and most appreciative of donations, for both organizations,” she said.

Non-cash donations such as food, leashes, collars and cleaning supplies, can be donated to the dog pound. For more information or anyone interested in donating to either organization may contact the dog pound at 740-942-4080 or the humane society at 740-827-4761.