Big dollars for dogs, cats at Humane Society

Where: 1100 S.E. 192nd Ave.

Size: 30,700 square feet.

Employees: 60 at the shelter and about 15 at two thrift stores.

Stores: Paws ‘n’ Claws at 3308 N.E. 52nd St. and 13898 N.E. 28th St.

Volunteers: About 400.

Annual budget: Approximately $3 million.

Donors: Thousands.

Website: www.southwesthumane.org.

With a $900,000 line of credit hanging over him, Chuck Tourtillot was a man looking for answers.

The director of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington said debt on the new animal shelter was causing him anxiety and promoting gray hair.

Enter Columbia Vista Corp., the last remaining sawmill in Clark County.

President Bob Lewis and his wife, Sharon, pledged $400,000 if shelter advocates could raise a matching amount.

On Saturday night, when bidding concluded at a dinner-auction, the $400,000 came in, with another estimated $400,000 to boot, for a total of more than $1.2 million.

“This community is the most generous I’ve ever been a part of,” Tourtillot said on Sunday. “I can’t say enough good things about it … Wonderful place to live.”

An estimated 670 people paid $85 each to be at the dinner-auction at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

One couple paid $4,750 for airline tickets and a weeklong stay in Spain.

The shelter, at 1100 N.E. 192nd Ave., opened in summer of 2009. It is three times as large as the former shelter at the Port of Vancouver. It has room for has room for 150 dogs and 300 cats.

Why would Columbia Vista offer such a large gift?

Bob Lewis explained that Sharon Lewis is on the society board and has been active in the auction.

“The company has had several good years and we have incredibly good people … who like to see us give back to the community,” Bob Lewis said.

Asked how it feels to play such a role for the shelter, Bob Lewis said, “It made us feel great to kind of be the catalyst to get people energized.

“As you know, this community has a big heart.”

The county once had more than 50 sawmills, Lewis said. He said his company with more than 100 employees now stands alone at 18637 S.E. Evergreen Highway.

Tourtillot said the new shelter has opened doors for the community.

“We are no longer just an animal warehouse that shelters animals. We now engage different members of the community (in educational programs),” he said.

He said the public is impressed with the facility and its staff .

“Employees find the building more efficient and much easier to work in,” Tourtillot said. “Even though we have more animals to take care of, we have a better building that can accommodate them.

“I live and breathe this organization and it’s problems are my problems. And I want to see it financially healthy.”

“People send what they can every month, and every donation helps,“ Tourtillot added.

On Sunday afternoon, the shelter was hopping with people looking for a new pet.

Ty Collins, 26, and Kelsi O’Connor, 25, picked out Moe, a 4-½-year-old male rat terrier mix. The couple and Moe bonded in an animal visitation room.

It didn’t take long for the two to sign the papers, pay $100 and take Moe to his new home in Washougal.