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New digs for dogs
| Source: |
Edmonton Sun |
| Date: |
February 25, 2009 |
| Author: |
Richard Liebrecht |
Officials at the Edmonton Humane Society can't wait to trade work
boots for paws.
Their new $22-million home at 136 Avenue and 163 Street is framed,
walled and windowed, and they were happy to give media a tour
yesterday.
Kurt Browning - former world champion figure skater - was on hand
representing the Pedigree Adoption drive, raising money for the new
shelter.
Most of the walls and floors are still bare, but that didn't dampen
the enthusiasm of society executive director Stephanie
McDonald.
"The day I put the first animal in here will be the greatest day,
because I know I'll be putting it in a safe environment," she
said. "It's been a long, long process."
The building is slated to open this spring - about a year later than
stated when the project was first dreamed up.
McDonald is touting the facility as a professional-grade site. The
shelter's surgery rooms have "the same equipment as in the hospital,"
she said during the tour. There's also an expanded list of training
and education services compared to the current facility at 12251 67
St., which has about half the floor space.
Features include a doggy daycare, a self-serve dog bath, and an
outdoor off-leash park.
The added spaces and services - many designed for public use - will
help raise funds from user fees and ease financial burdens brought on
by the new building.
The facility's price tag has grown by $4 million since the initial
design, and the facility will cost about $4.3 million to operate
yearly - a fourth more than the old building.
About 40% of Humane Society funds come from donors.
But new services will also help make the pets more adoptable, said
McDonald.
The society can now perform needed surgeries on animals before they
are put up for adoption. Right now, she said, some pets have notes
slapped on their cages warning would-be owners of the thousands of
dollars in ensuing vet bills.
"People tend to walk right past those cages," she said.
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