By Becky Streeter
Bob’s House for Dogs, a nonprofit just south of Eau Claire in the town of Pleasant Valley, has launched a capital campaign to raise $1.8 million for a new facility, and its founders, Travis and Amy Quella, are hoping the public will join them to Unleash a Legacy.
Since opening its doors in 2010, Bob’s House for Dogs has been rescuing dogs and helping them become more adoptable. During that time, Bob’s House has helped more than 800 dogs, most of them seniors or dogs with disabilities. Over 700 have been adopted, and another 100-plus have lived out their days, weeks, months and even years at Bob’s House.
After the tragic loss of their beloved dog, Bob, adopted from a northern Wisconsin shelter, the Quellas wanted to create a safe space for other dogs. Bob’s House fosters dogs for shelters and rescues and also takes in puppy mill survivors, caring for them in a kennel-free, homelike environment. The current “house” is 1,400 square feet and includes a small and a large fenced play areas for the dogs.
However, it no longer meets organization’s needs. Currently, the dogs have a view of the front entry, which can be very stressful for them as they are perpetually interested in whoever is at the door. In addition, the grooming and laundry areas are in one of the dogs’ living areas, and activities there can cause anxiety. The existing building lacks a place for dogs to recover after medical procedures, space to introduce Bob’s House dogs to potential adopters, and storage.
In 2022, Bob’s House for Dogs purchased 40 acres of land less than two miles from the current site, where a new building more than double the square footage of their current building will be built. This provides space to initiate a new program--one that would address a need that shelter partners having been talking about for years--providing the same Bob’s House care to up to 12 senior cats. The new facility will have separate rooms for dogs and cats, where they can lounge, nap or play–away from any facility entry. It also will have rooms for meet-and-greets, recovery, a temperature-controlled room for medications and food, separate grooming and laundry rooms, office space, and much-needed storage. The structure will be energy efficient and have additional security.
The expansion is planned to further the mission of Bob’s House: to make senior dogs (and soon cats!) more adoptable. Many of the dogs have seen their fair share of hardships, and the staff provide loving attention, high-quality food, and meticulous healthcare. This gets many of the animals back on their feet, going from cages in their previous life, to couches at Bob’s and then into loving homes within the community. Animals with terminal illnesses, advanced age or severe anxiety also can live out their days at Bob’s, receiving medical care to make them more comfortable and lots of love.
“Bob’s House couldn’t do what it does without the support of the public, and Amy and I are hoping people will help us Unleash a Legacy, so we can continue to help animals in need,” Travis said.
For more information or to donate to the Unleash a Legacy capital campaign, visit bobshousefordogs.org/unleash-a-legacy or scan the QR Code. Any amount would be appreciated to help future animals find their furever homes.
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