DUNCAN — Animal lovers are howling and meowing loudly as they start 2009. Well, the members of Friends of Stephens County Humane Society certainly are after a meeting Saturday where they took a collective look back at 2008 and found that it was a financially sound year.

Betty Burk, president of the organization, said Monday that fundraisers held last year helped the group more than double its profits, though she declined to reveal that exact amount. She said much was accomplished. To provide an indicator of how well the group did, she offered the total on the annual rummage sale that was held in June.

“That is our biggest fundraiser and brings in the most. We raised $5,300 and that was more than doubled from the year before,” she said with a huge smile.

She credits several factors for those proceeds. The biggest advantage was plenty of donations and the new location.

The group rented a county fairgrounds building to have its sale, and the indoor location made it worthwhile for both the group and shoppers, Burk said.

“We’re very fortunate that people care about the homeless animals,” she said. Calls are already coming in and donations are being collected for the next sale, again set for June, she said.

“We’ve already gotten some nice furniture donated from a man in Marlow.”

Another reason supporters of the facility are happy is an upcoming show in March.

It will be a new fundraising event, but Burk is excited and expects a great outcome.

Burk outlined the event that includes a hypnotist (Rick Minter of Duncan), the third floor of Butterfield’s, a silent auction and more.

“This is the first fundraiser of the year,” she said. The third floor of the historic Butterfield’s business on Main Street has a 300-person capacity, Burk noted. She’s hoping that by keeping the tickets under a $10 cost, many people will turn out and show support for the animals.

But Burk noted that it was the support of Stephens County residents in 2008 that has given the group the ability to keep pushing forward.

“Our big thing still is the spay and neuter program,” she said. Late in the year, the group began offering certificates for $25 off a spay or neuter procedure. There were 175 of those issued to county residents and the group began with a $2,500 budget. By the time the year was over, the Friends had spent $4,500 in certificate issues. Because of its success, Burk said the certificate program will begin this month, again with a $2,500 budget.

“Even though the economy is bad, if you have your pet spayed or neutered, you’re helping reduce the overall overpopulation and that helps prevent unwanted animals,” she said.

Other veterinary costs also are incurred by the organization, from heartworm testing and treatment so that animals are healthy when put up for adoption through the shelter, to injuries that stray animals may have when they arrive at the shelter.

In 2008, five fundraising events were sponsored by the Friends of SCHS. They were the rummage sale, a bake sale and on-site adoption, the holiday open house at the facility, Christmas trees at the Simmons Center and Bark in the Park. Burk explained that the Bark in the Park is a SCHS board of directors event, but the Friends group maintains a booth at the event and does benefit from it. There are also private donations that come into the facility that are either earmarked for the facility or the Friends group. Two Main Street antique stores also house booths and proceeds from those benefit the Friends group.

The Dalmatian Ball is a board of directors event and occurs every other year, she noted. Since it was last year, the new event set for March will not compete with it.

“It’s all to help the homeless animals,” she said.

Again, Burk smiled as she shared more of the endeavors from 2008.

“The board of directors is always very grateful.”

Naming off a half-dozen items: new phone system, washing machine, dishwasher, heater, upgrade of the air-conditioning system and more, Burk said all those items were purchased or contracted for service in 2008. Many of the items are for sanitary purposes, she said. Also, it allows volunteers at the shelter to spend more time taking care of the pets.

“There were so many this last year,” Burk said.

“Just in December, we got a lot of animals in, but also it was a good month for adoptions.”

Another expense in 2008 happened when several abused and neglected horses were rescued. Burk said all have been placed in foster homes and the Friends group spent $1,800 just to get the horses healthy.

“There’s so much that goes on that people don’t know about. We are so blessed,” she said.

“The Friends are a small group, but we’re a mighty group. Whatever we can do for the animals is what we are about.”