TIMELINE OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

 

1915

A group of Escondido citizens begin gathering weekly to discuss animal welfare in the community.

 

1937

The group becomes incorporated and title themselves the Escondido Humane Society and S.P.C.A.  The shelter is located on the corner of Mission Avenue and Broadway on 1.36 acres of land.

 

1947

EHS signs a contract with the City of Escondido to begin enforcing the city’s animal control.

 

1972

EHS moves to a 4-acre site inside of Kit Carson Park.  The land is leased from the Escondido School District with the understanding that EHS will serve primarily as an educational facility.  The society’s mission shifts toward a focus on educational programs emphasizing humane treatment of animals.  The society officially becomes the Escondido Humane Society/Center for Humane Education.

The new facility is built at a cost of $375,000 under the leadership of President Sid Hollins and Executive Director Bill Huskey.  The facility is funded by the sale of the former shelter in addition to seed money from the City of Escondido and private donations.

 

1984

The facility, stretched to maximum capacity, is remodeled to expand to 11,000 sq. ft.

 

1997

EHS loses their animal control contract after the City of Escondido decides not to renew it.  EHS becomes strictly a center for humane education and pet adoptions.  The loss of the animal control contract and a drop in donations force the society into financial hardship.

 

1998

April                  EHS executive director, Dr. Stockner resigns

 

July                  Phil Morgan is named executive director

Morgan, with a background in pet supply retail, implements an aggressive business plan to increase services and help the society regain financial stability.  He also begins building relationships with the City of Escondido and the community at large.

 

 

Nov.                  Morgan signs a contract with the San Diego County Department of Animal Control to allow EHS to manage the housing of stray animals in Escondido and North Inland San Diego County.

 

2000

July                  Marking the end of EHS’s fiscal year, the society breaks even financially for the first time in years.

 

 

 

 

2001

Jan. 20

11.07 p.m.         Flames are reported shooting out of the humane society building.  Un-equipped with fire sprinklers, the roof quickly succumbs to fire.

 

            11:15                The Escondido Fire Department arrives

 

11:30                Realizing the building cannot be saved, the fire department begins freeing trapped animals.  EHS Board President Tom Knight arrives at the scene and sees dogs running around the property shivering and scared.

 

11:45                Dr. Gary Gallerstein of the Acacia Animal Hospital sets up an emergency unit and begins treating animals.  In two hours, he treats 28 animals. 

The Escondido Veterinary Urgent Care treat the remainder of the injured animals.

 

12:15 a.m.         Phil Morgan arrives and begins organizing rescue efforts with volunteers and other humane agencies.

 

4 a.m.               The fire is extinguished.  It takes 85 firefighters and nearly five hours to put out the blaze.  In the end, 115 animals perish and 85 are saved.  Among the survivors are dogs, snakes, chickens, an emu, and bunnies. The majority of the survivors suffer from smoke inhalation and burns to their paws, fur and eyes.  Of the worst injured is a three month old puppy suffering corneal burns, singed nasal passages and respiratory damage.  Another is a two year old dog named Smokey who suffered second and third degree burns from melting tar dripping from the burning roof.

 

 

 

Jan. 21

8 a.m.               Non-critical surviving animals are transferred from Acacia Animal Hospital to the Poway Animal Keeper boarding kennel and the North County Animal Shelter in Carlsbad.

 

11 a.m.             Firefighters pull a black Labrador-mix puppy out of the building’s charred remains.  They later adopt the puppy and name him Flame.

                        EHS receives an outpouring of support.  Monetary donations, blankets, and animal supplies begin coming in immediately.  The Acacia Animal Hospital begins fielding countless offers to adopt the surviving dogs.

 

Jan. 24                          The Escondido Chamber of Commerce offers the humane society office space and furniture.

 

Jan.27                           250 people, many accompanied by their pets, attend a memorial service at Kit Carson Park.

 

Jan.28                           People arrive in droves to four different Petco locations in hopes of adopting one of the 21 survivor dogs.

 

Feb. 22                         Monetary donations total $850,000 from private and corporate donors, community fundraisers and a telethon by KFMB and KUSI.

 

March 24                       4,000 walkers attend the second annual EHS Animal Walk.  The walk raises $120,000 for the new shelter.

 

June 7                           Phil Morgan is presented the “A Leader Never Stops Building” award from the Fallbrook Kiwanis Club.

 

June 21                         EHS names Wayne Usiak, a specialist in designing and building animal care facilities, as the architect for the new structure.  Schirmer Engineering Corp. is selected to oversee the development of fire protection on the new facility. The City of Escondido commits to leasing a seven-acre plot of land just beyond the Mayflower Dog Park on East Valley Parkway.

                                    EHS is mandated to conduct land studies on the new property.  Local contractors perform the following land studies:

§         Soils, pesticides, hazardous materials

§         Environmental impact

§         Biological wetlands/gnatcatcher

§         Acoustical        

§         Traffic

Nov. 22                         Master plans are submitted to the City of Escondido.

 

2002

Jan. 9                           Phil Morgan presents the City Council with an update on the status of the society’s rebuild project.  The council approves a motion to continue support of EHS and to continue studying the shelter plans.

 

The EHS rebuild fund reaches $2.5 million, including $1.4 from donations and $1.1 from insurance.

 

Jan.20                           EHS holds a site dedication ceremony on the one year anniversary of the fire.

 

March 23                       The 3rd Annual Animal Walk raises $73,000 in donations.  Proceeds go toward rebuilding the shelter and current operations such as humane education, pet therapy and cat adoptions.

 

May 8                           The City Council approves the first phase of the society’s rebuild plans.   Master plans and building permits are scheduled for approval in mid-June. 

 

July 9                            EHS holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Animal Center

 

August 24                     Over 200 guests raise in excess of $27,000 for EHS at the 9th Annual Dinner of Champions.  Held at Escondido City Hall, the event is themed “an under construction affair”.

 

September                    The City of Escondido gives EHS the green light to begin grading.

 

October 14                    Sierra Pacific West, Inc. is awarded the civil contract and begins construction on the site of the future EHS Animal Center.