Visions for animal care center in Delafield become a reality; Waukesha Rotary Club grant to help endangered monarchs
Colorful, shady awnings cover picnic tables, horses graze over spacious pastures and children gather attentively around their camp counselor.
The new additions to the Schallock Center for Animals in Delafield make it unrecognizable from how the land appeared when the center opened a year ago.
Whether you’re hopping on a golf cart for a tour of the center from humane education lead Alexis Breese, or getting to know the tall, friendly horses from Lucy Kowalski, intern barn manager, it is clear that the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha has taken full advantage of the land donated by Mike Schallock, a founding member of HAWS, and his wife, Jane.
“It's grown tremendously, and so far I think it feels like all the visions we had have become a reality,” said Jen Smieja, communications and media specialist.
The 25-acre property at W330S1205 Highway C was donated to promote animal welfare, and HAWS hasn’t forgotten about even the smallest creatures.
The center registered as a monarch waystation in 2022, planting milkweeds to aid in monarch butterflies’ migration journey. This month, the Waukesha Rotary Club received a $3,000 grant from Rotary District 6270 to help HAWS plant more pollinator plants and remove buckthorn, an invasive plant species.
Monarch butterflies were added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species in July, enhancing the grant’s importance, said Schallock's activities coordinator, Mackenzie Fink.
HAWS will consult with a horticulturist to decide what kinds of plants will be best for pollinators, Smieja said.
“These pollinator gardens that we're putting together are very purposeful,” Smeija said.
At its core, the grant seems simple, Smeija said, but the Rotary Club’s acknowledgement of its importance makes her hopeful for the future of the center.
“To us, it says that this is something that people want and are planning on being a part of, and they see that we're doing good things here,” Smeija said.
Volunteers will help plant the safe havens for pollinators. While the volunteer recruiting process is still underway, members of the Waukesha Rotary Club have volunteered to lend a helping hand.
Since the center’s opening, partner groups such as Wisconsin Hero Outdoors, Generac Volunteer Groups, and Carroll University students have offered help, Smeija said.
“Initial contact has been real popular, been real positive, talking to (volunteer groups) about how this is going to work,” Smeija said. “And something like this, the impact of something like this, is more fun than just going out and pulling weeds.”
The grant will also be used to plant shrubs for privacy, out of respect for the property’s neighbors, Smeija said.
HAWS has been in Waukesha County since 1965, and started as the go-to spot for people to drop off stray dogs. What’s been made possible by the 25 acres is an example of how the organization has become an integral part of the community, she said.
The grant will be put to use “as soon as possible,” she said, but planning is still in early stages. Those interested in volunteering should contact Fink at 262-542-8851 or Mackenzie@hawspets.org
Quinn Clark can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Quinn_A_Clark
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Delafield animal care center receives grant to help endangered monarchs
