The Williamson County Commissioners Court accepted a $142,800 donation to the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter during its Feb. 15 meeting.
The donation was made by the Walinski Revocable Trust. According to county documents, Ted and Janet Waliniski were impressed with the shelter’s “no-kill policy,” and made arrangements for a percentage of their assets to go to WCRAS upon their deaths.
Misty Valenta, WCRAS director of animal services, said the Walinskis were avid supporters of the shelter.
“They were such advocates for the animals of the shelter and saving each and every one of their lives and wanting to give back,” Valenta said.
To honor the Walinski’s legacy, WCRAS plans to use the funds to focus on ways to save and improve the lives of the animals in the shelter, Valenta said.
Valenta said the Walinskis were big lovers of cats and kittens, including adopted and fostered several over the years. For this reason, part of the funding will provide the training and staffing necessary to help during times of the year when the shelter brings in the most kittens, Valenta said.
This has been the largest donation that the shelter has received that has not been grant funded by a larger organization in almost a decade, Valenta said.
“Anytime we receive a donation like that, I take it very seriously because this is a memorial of that individual. We leave a legacy here after we pass, and it’s part of [the Walinskis] legacy,” Valenta said. “Now it’s in our hands to honor that legacy.”
