BELLA VISTA -- When Phil Sciumbato saw the Bella Vista Historical Museum's special exhibit on the animal shelter, he broke down and cried.
Sciumbato, a former captain with the Bella Vista Division of the Benton County Sheriff's Office, was the impetus behind establishing the shelter roughly 30 years ago. On Sunday he lectured to a crowd of more than 30 people at the museum, detailing the shelter's early struggles, his battles with the Property Owners Association and thanking those who supported him.
Forever homes
The Bella Vista Animal Shelter charges $55 for dog adoptions and $45 for cats. The fee covers the animal’s first round of shots, spaying or neutering and micro-chipping. The shelter also offers a program called Seniors for Seniors. If you’re 60 or older, the adoption fee is waived for animals 7 or older and a free veterinarian check is included. To adopt any of the dogs or cats at the shelter, visit 32 Bella Vista Way or call 479-855-6020.
Source: Staff report
"It's probably the greatest experience of my life," Sciumbato said. "To get (the shelter) accomplished and looking at it now is like a dream come true. Now I can die happy."
Sciumbato started the Bella Vista Animal Shelter in 1985, transforming an 8-by-12 tool shed into a dog kennel. Stray dogs had been kept in a fenced-in area behind the division's headquarters at 105 Town Center. The dogs' only refuge was a propane tank tucked into a corner.
Seeking to find a "more humane" way to house the animals, Sciumbato got help from Cooper Communities Inc. when it allowed him to use a barren patch of land just south of the state line as the site of the shelter. Sciumbato's mission drew community interest, and local businesses like Wal-Mart, Ozark Fence Co. and Tomlin Builders also donated their time and money to help build a facility that housed and fed about a dozen strays.
Bella Vista's population at the time hovered around 5,000, but officers were inundated with animal complaints, Sciumbato said. There was no animal control officer so police handled the issue in addition to their regular duties.
While Sciumbato had meager support from the POA's board of directors, his initial requests for aid were shot down. But thanks to a groundswell of local support, the shelter expanded to nearly double its size and Sciumbato was able to add electricity and install a septic tank. Meanwhile, residents donated money and equipment to the shelter.
When Jim Medin took over as the POA's general manager in the late 1980s, Sciumbato said he finally had some sympathy from the POA. Medin, eager to help, donated $1,000 toward the project.
The shelter quickly filled up and Sciumbato sought ways to get the dogs adopted. He started running photos in the Weekly Vista of his officers posing with the dogs, which he said was moderately successful. But when he enlisted Molly Sabata, a photogenic 11-year-old, dogs were adopted in droves.
"Molly's picture could get a dog adopted within two or three days," Sciumbato said. "She was my right-hand gal. I loved her then and I love her now."
Molly and her father, Rob, who at the time worked at Bank of Bentonville and helped support the shelter, surprised Sciumbato at the museum on Saturday. After the initial shock wore off, Sciumbato embraced both of them in a lengthy hug. He said he hadn't seen the pair in 20 years.
Molly and Rob also made undisclosed donations to the animal shelter and historical museum. Through tears, Molly Sabata said she hoped the donation could "help take care of furry dogs forever."
After frequent clashes with POA general manager Howard Hellerstedt, who Sciumbato said never wanted the shelter, Sciumbato was fired in 1992. Sciumbato was unable to directly work on the shelter, but was unwavering in his support.
"It's a bittersweet story," Sciumbato said. "It was a real community project. It wasn't just one or two people. There's so many people to thank.
Today, the shelter has grown to a 5,000-square-foot facility with a dedicated staff and has a much-improved relationship with the POA, according to director Robin Heis, director. The shelter, which operates independently, annually serves about 900 dogs and cats, Heis said. Bella Vista contracts with the shelter to for about $65,000 annually.
Shelter records show its euthanasia rate of 6 percent is far below the national average of 64 percent, according to the American Humane Association.
Elizabeth Freitheim, who sits on the shelter's board of directors, praised the staff's hard work and said Sciumbato's efforts were a great achievement.
"They should think about naming a dog Phil's Perseverance," she said.
NW News on 04/18/2016