Local donors and supporters have had their first glimpse of the new Chatham-Kent Animal Shelter.
A special invite-only ribbon cutting was held yesterday to show off the facility on Park Avenue East, which will replace the 45-year-old shelter next door.
Project manager Lynn McGeachy-Shultz says there are a number of new inviting features.
“The floors all have in-floor heating so no animal lays on a cold floor,” McGeachy-Shultz says. “We have a community room that’s accessible and open for the community so kids could have birthday parties or community groups can meet and it’s a great place for both teaching and learning.”
The new shelter also includes a private room where those who have to surrender an animal can say a proper, private goodbye, and a climate controlled ‘cat window’ at the front of the building where kids will be allowed to crawl in and read to their furry friends.
Art Stirling, who co-chaired the Friends of the New Animal Shelter fundraising committee along with Marjorie Crew, says the entire process has been heart-warming.
“When Marjorie and I started the Friends of the Animal Shelter committee four yers ago, we were struck by the volunteers and leaders that stepped forward to help us,” Stirling says. “It take as village to raise a child, it seems it takes a village to raise an animal shelter too.”
Animals will start being moved over next week, and a public open house is being held in early June.
While the construction is paid for, donations are still being accepted at municipal service centres to help with up-keep and on-going needs at the shelter.
The old shelter, built in 1974, will be torn down and turned into green space.
