Up to $5,000 worth of animal supplies will be at the disposal of the Mackinac County Animal Shelter, owing to a raffle won by St. Ignace's Jo Ford at an animal shelter conference in Grand Rapids October 22 through October 24.

Mrs. Ford, a member of the Mackinac County Animal Aid Association, attended a grant writing conference, where she entered the raffle contest.

The association has already collected $1,800 worth of the Petco products, such as heated beds, climbing trees, automatic water fountains, and toys for the animals at the shelter. Currently, there are 16 cats and 10 dogs at the shelter in St. Ignace.

Mrs. Ford is hoping, with the remaining money, to purchase animal food and litter, but space at the shelter is limited at the moment, she said. If anyone would like to volunteer to help store food and litter for the sheltered animals, they can contact the Mackinac County Animal Shelter at 643- 7646.

The association next wants to secure grants to expand the shelter facility to allow for an exercise and de-stressing area for cats, said Mrs. Ford.