By Perry Schaible
Enquirer contributor

OKEANA - Just two hours after she was brought into the Animal Adoption Foundation, Missy, a 2-year-old beagle mix, already had a rapport with shelter executive director Leland Gordon.

Missy was brought to the shelter by her owner, who was forced to move to a place that wouldn't allow pets.

Her story is not uncommon. For every Missy, there is a Dante, a Mikey and a Bonnie - all animals brought to the nonprofit, no-kill pet shelter in Okeana.

With about 60 tenants, the shelter is at capacity, but a quest to raise $1 million for a new building has been tedious.

Aside from two large gifts - $1 million donated by the Bever family and a $100,000 bequest from a local woman - donations have been slow.

A new shelter with amenities would cost $1.6 million. Out of the money on hand, $200,000 was spent on six acres on U.S. 27 near Millville, leaving just $900,000 to cover the cost of a new building and a planned $400,000 operational endowment.

Without a boost in donations, the organization will have to consider taking out a loan.

It's been Gordon's mission since taking over four months ago to make the expansion project a success.

The current tiny building in Okeana is falling apart. The roof leaks, the constant water drip in the bathtub has made it unsuitable for grooming, and significant repairs are needed for the kennel doors, yard fencing, shelter doors and employee work areas.

The lack of an air conditioner made it hard on the animals this summer.

"We're at the point where this building has so many leaks in it as far as the structure, we don't want to go through many more winters in it," Gordon said.

The Animal Adoption Foundation was opened in 1977 and moved to Okeana in the mid-1980s.

"Everybody loves the no-kill thing, but then nobody wants to support it," Gordon said.

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, about 64 percent of the 8 million to 12 million animals sent to shelters each year nationwide will be euthanized.

At a rate of 200 to 300 adoptions a year, the animals are coming into the Animal Adoption Foundation faster than Gordon can adopt them out. Every day he receives about 30 calls from people asking if the shelter can take their pet.

Plans for the new facility include cat "condos" and almost 30 percent more room for dogs.

Hamilton resident Carrie Hyatt adopted her 1-year-old cocker spaniel mix from the shelter.

"I liked the idea of helping two animals at once by adopting one and giving another the space to be there," Hyatt said.

The cost to adopt a pet from the Animal Adoption Foundation is $55 for cats, $80 for mixed-breed dogs, and $100 for purebred dogs.

For more information, go to www.aafpets.org or call 738-0020. Mail donations to AAF, P.O. Box 13119, Hamilton, OH 45013

Enquirer reporter Jennifer Edwards contributed to this article.