Twenty year time capsule unearthed at Marin Humane Society

Time capsule found during demolition of cat adoption area

(NOVATO, CALIF. , April 9, 2009) — Marin Humane Society employees unearthed a time capsule this morning while in the process of demolishing part of the organization’s cat adoption area in preparation for a major rebuild project scheduled to begin on Monday. Included in the time capsule among various Humane Society publications was a copy of the Marin Independent Journal from January 5, 1989. The headline of the day read “Libya lying, U.S. says”; the Dow Jones was up several points at 2182.32.

Among curious onlookers were some of the Society’s 20 year plus employees, including Al Oliver, IT manager; Sergeant Steve Hill, animal services; Margareta Luff, animal care technician; Kim Lanham-Snyder, director of special programs; Captain Cindy Machado, director of animal services; and Sumner Fowler, facilities manager and staff photographer.

“Wow, I never thought I would be here 20 years later to see this,” exclaimed Fowler, a 29-year employee of the Humane Society. Fowler buried the time capsule in January 1989 while constructing new cat cages for the Society. “We will definitely put together a new time capsule when the renovations begin next week – and this time along with print materials we can include DVDs, CDs, and more!”

Built in 1968, the Marin Humane Society shelter has never seen major renovations. Beginning Monday, the first phase of a three-part rebuild will begin with improvements to the cat adoption area. Renovation of the Society’s veterinary clinic dog runs is scheduled to begin in May, followed by construction of a 1,700-square-foot Intake Center this summer to house the 1,500+ animals rescued annually from out of county.

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