More than 50 volunteers, members of the public and municipal officials gathered recently to mark the beginning of construction of a new animal shelter.
The $2.35 million – 6,300 square foot facility at 406 Park Avenue East will be owned by the municipality and operated under contract by the Pet and Wildlife Rescue (PAWR) Group. AUBI is the general contractor.
Chatham-Kent Council approved $1.38 million of the project cost while a community fundraising drive by the Friends of the New Animal Shelter had $900,000 in funding.
Fundraising co-chairs Art Stirling and Marjorie Crew were on hand for the ceremony.
“Four years ago when Art and I asked the community to assist in funding this important project, they came through to make this happen for the animals of CK,” said Crew. “This is a unique community and municipal partnership that shows we are all better together.”
“This is an exciting day that was a long time in the making,” said Stirling. “A community is judged by how well it cares for its most vulnerable. Animals in need in Chatham-Kent will now be cared for in a modern and clean facility. We are so humbled that our community stepped forward and helped us make this happen.”
Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope this morning called the ground-breaking for construction of a new animal shelter the beginning of a new era.
Hope was one of several dignitaries who turned over a ceremonial spade of dirt, marking the construction of the facility at 406 Park Avenue East.
“Animals mean so much to so many people in our community and it’s a pleasure to see this facility finally coming to fruition,” he said. “We can forget the problems of the past and look toward better care for animals who need it.
“The fact that citizens have raised nearly a million dollars for a municipal building shows how important this facility is to the community,” said Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire.
The new building, expected to be in full operation by early next year, replaces a former facility which had fallen into disrepair.
The Friends of the Animal Shelter will continue its work to raise money to buy equipment and furnish the building.
