Goshen Humane Society operators retire, shelter to close next month
Rick Bosley and his wife, Susan, have run the shelter on Police Drive as unpaid volunteers since 2005.
The Goshen Humane Society is closing its doors now its long-time operators are retiring.
Rick Bosley and his wife, Susan, have run the shelter on Police Drive as unpaid volunteers since 2005.
The couple are moving to Tennessee and say the shelter for dogs and cats is now closing.
They say the town owns the shelter and partially funds it but has been unable to find anyone else to volunteer.
“Susan and I don’t get paid to run this, to find somebody to run this and do what we do for free is next to impossible," said Bossley.
Bossley says he and his wife have fielded several calls from people interested in operating the shelter, but they decline once they learn the positions are unpaid.
Bosley says the shelter receives roughly $35,000 a year from the town and village of Goshen, but that it costs $220,000 to run annually. He says animal care and payroll for eight part-time employees are mostly funded through donations.
Bossley says all the cats and dogs housed there have been rehomed.
The shelter is closing on Aug. 15.
Town of Goshen Supervisor Joe Betro says officials have been working on a solution for two months.
"We received the news from the Goshen Humane staff three months ago that they were retiring," said Betro. "Currently, we have interviewed three applicants and we are meeting with the Warwick Humane Society to discuss an agreement for them to accept our animals. I also will be meeting with Susan Bossley to discuss the possibility of structuring a new board and what it would take to keep the Goshen Humane Society open."
