ENNIS, TEXAS -
Wallace Swanson wrestled with the decision to close Camp Wolfgang for months.
With donations dwindling and adoptions down, his haven for abandoned German Shepherds was slowly eating away at his personal savings. But he believed someone would step in to help out.
The money never came.
The shelter is set to close at the end of the month.
"It was [a decision] that I fought for a good part of the year," he said. "It was very upsetting. It was a decision you make when you have exhausted all other alternatives."
Swanson opened Camp Wolfgang in 2001 after he visited a local animal shelter that was forced to euthanize several animals a day for space.
It was an eye-opening experience for the former Highland Park attorney and one that caused him to close his law office and move to Ennis, he said.
The shelter flourished for years until the recent recession caused a drop in donations and fewer adoptions. Both made it difficult to cover the $15,000 monthly operational cost.
"Raising money in this economy is one step removed from looking for the tooth fairy," he said. "We were just not able to raise the money to continue. It was the saddest day of my life."
The news of the closure quickly spread through animal rescue groups in Dallas and Fort Worth, causing more than 50 dogs to be adopted out on Saturday.
Dozens more came Sunday to adopt dogs or simply pay their respects to Swanson.
"We were real happy that we could help out the dogs that were here," Jon Radke said as he walked out with a dog named Superman. "We're sorry that this group isn't going to be here anymore, because obviously they do a great job."
Some were concerned about what the recession might do to other shelters that help house a growing population of stray or unwanted animals.
"There is no room for all these puppies, and that's why this beautiful place is filled with dogs," Cathy Dunne said.
Most of the remaining dogs will be shipped to various rescue groups around the country, Swanson said. He hopes that Operation Kindness, a no-kill shelter in Carrollton, might be able to revive Camp Wolfgang.
But until then, he'll just have to hope for the best.
"I'm hoping for a miracle," he said. "It would be nice if I could win the lottery on Tuesday."
With donations dwindling and adoptions down, his haven for abandoned German Shepherds was slowly eating away at his personal savings. But he believed someone would step in to help out.
The money never came.
The shelter is set to close at the end of the month.
"It was [a decision] that I fought for a good part of the year," he said. "It was very upsetting. It was a decision you make when you have exhausted all other alternatives."
Swanson opened Camp Wolfgang in 2001 after he visited a local animal shelter that was forced to euthanize several animals a day for space.
It was an eye-opening experience for the former Highland Park attorney and one that caused him to close his law office and move to Ennis, he said.
The shelter flourished for years until the recent recession caused a drop in donations and fewer adoptions. Both made it difficult to cover the $15,000 monthly operational cost.
"Raising money in this economy is one step removed from looking for the tooth fairy," he said. "We were just not able to raise the money to continue. It was the saddest day of my life."
The news of the closure quickly spread through animal rescue groups in Dallas and Fort Worth, causing more than 50 dogs to be adopted out on Saturday.
Dozens more came Sunday to adopt dogs or simply pay their respects to Swanson.
"We were real happy that we could help out the dogs that were here," Jon Radke said as he walked out with a dog named Superman. "We're sorry that this group isn't going to be here anymore, because obviously they do a great job."
Some were concerned about what the recession might do to other shelters that help house a growing population of stray or unwanted animals.
"There is no room for all these puppies, and that's why this beautiful place is filled with dogs," Cathy Dunne said.
Most of the remaining dogs will be shipped to various rescue groups around the country, Swanson said. He hopes that Operation Kindness, a no-kill shelter in Carrollton, might be able to revive Camp Wolfgang.
But until then, he'll just have to hope for the best.
"I'm hoping for a miracle," he said. "It would be nice if I could win the lottery on Tuesday."
