Puppy dog tails waved, cats meowed and Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley staff and volunteers were delighted Thursday afternoon with the opening of its new $ 1.8 million animal shelter along Church Street in New Kensington.
The facility is the first large, large-scale animal shelter in the lower All-Kiski Valley.
In addition to medical and shelter facilities for animals, there is now space for animal training, adoption meetings, community outreach and more.
Previously, animal protectors worked in a small building along New Kensington’s Linden Avenue, which for years had been poorly equipped with adequate ventilation or sufficient space to care for the animals.
Efforts by incoming president Phyllis Framel and others from the shelter council have turned into a nearly eight-year-long odyssey to find a new larger home.
They were turned away in Allegheny Township and Lower Burrell to locate the shelter there.
Then, in 2016, they moved the former school to Church St. 730 secured in the city. Shelter officials included the typical and atypical fundraising and construction challenges, including strikes caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
“We did it,” Framel said Thursday. ‘A lot of people have worked very hard, and now we have this wonderful facility for the community and environment.
“We have been around for 54 years and hope to serve another 54 years with extensive services and a healthier atmosphere for the animals,” she said.
There was little fanfare with Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance to the new shelter, while councilors, staff, volunteers and the media turned their attention to the dogs and cats as they entered the shelter one by one.
Kevin, Joker and Harley – all mixed breeds – were among the dogs brought in leashes for excited shelter staff and volunteers who named their names and greeted each animal.
Predictably, the cats held on to their aloof attitude when they arrived in carriers. They were brought to their new home, with junk rooms next to their cages and a couch of windows that could let sunlight flow into the room.
The current crop of the home of about 16 cats and eight dogs is housed in the facility.
The new shelter, which is about 14,000 square meters, is almost five times as large as the old shelter.
The new premises also contain modern cages with glass doors, several medical rooms with holding areas and sophisticated ventilation to constantly refresh the air and also contain circulation in the medical rooms to spread viruses.
“When I saw the sign outside this new shelter today, I almost cried,” said Dr. Betsy Kennon, who volunteers professional veterinary services at the shelter, said.
“This is our eternal home and we can do so much for these insects now,” she said.
Kennon was amazed at the individual medical rooms filled with a sink and stainless steel tables and cages.
“It would be nice to no longer have to examine an animal on the floor or on the counter,” she said.
Framel said the project was made possible by experienced, six-figure bequests from residents in the area, as well as other donations from individuals and foundation grants.
Some of the large bequests come from volunteers, while other large individual donations came as a complete surprise, she said.
“Animals are a big part of people’s lives, especially now during the pandemic,” Framel said. “People realize that stray, abused and abandoned animals are needed to find homes, and this is a mission that is close to the hearts of some residents.”
While animals moved into the new shelter on Thursday, it will take days to fully settle, Framel said.
Although the facility is closed to walk-in traffic, the adoption of animals continues, but is only offered by prior arrangement.
For more information, visit Animal Protectors’ website and call their offices at 724-339-7388.
Canzian / Johnston and Associates, an architectural firm in New Kensington, planned the refurbished space with shelter officials. Construction was provided by Masco Construction, Inc.
Mary Ann Thomas is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Mary at 724-226-4691, [email protected] or via Twitter .
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