Chatham-Kent could have its long-awaited new animal shelter within three years if a $2 million fundraising effort by a local committee is successful.
Municipal council gave its unanimous support to replace the 40 plus year old facility on Park Ave. with a new building being sought by the Animal Shelter Fundraising Committee.
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The committee, co chaired by former councillors Art Stirling and Marjorie Crew, is recommending construction of a 6,000 plus square foot facility with dog kennels, cat rooms, a veterinary treatment room and other up to date features now lacking.
It will double the size of the current building through which some 2,000 animals pass through each year.
Replacing the existing facility has been discussed for decades, however, despite negotiations with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that supplies animal control for the municipality, no plan was forthcoming.
Stirling and Crew began discussing the need last fall and added Counc. Frank Vercouteren, Dr. Bruce Warwick and Ike Erickson to the group.
“We’re only in this position to proceed because Bruce and Frank have kept the fires burning on this issue for years,” Stirling said.
“Dr. Warwick has been involved in animal welfare since before the current shelter was built,” Crew said. “We owe people such as he, Frank and Ike a tremendous debt.”
Prior to its report to council the group undertook consultations with municipal staff, OSPCA authorities, members of other area groups working in animal care, the local veterinary community, marketing experts, qualified construction project managers, and others.
The group toured other animal shelters across the province. They eventually identified a shelter in Bracebridge as a model for Chatham.
Robyn Brady, local OSPCA community relations’ coordinator, has said she’s glad to see the issue of animal welfare at the forefront in Chatham-Kent.
Brady said the current Park Street East facility is in dire need of upgrading.
“We do the best we can, but the facility isn’t large enough and the layout isn’t conducive to what we need,” she said. “A new facility has been talked about for years.”
Stirling called the facility an embarrassment, a belief shared by many in the community. “Everyone we spoke with is aware of the need,” he said. “It’s beyond time that it was replaced.”
Crew said the effort is independent of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or any of the other groups in the community in the animal welfare sector.
“Our goal is to build the shelter and turn it over to the municipality with no financial obligation beyond maintenance,” she said. “We aren’t interested in a commitment in terms of operation.”
The fundraising campaign was kicked off with a $25,000 donation from Dr. Warwick.
Anyone interested in donating can call 519-360-1998, visit any municipal centre, or log onto www.newanimalshelterck.com.
