Bricks & mortar for cats and dogs

MAT-SU –– Groundbreaking takes place tomorrow for a greatly anticipated project: the $5.2 million expansion of the MAT-SU Borough Animal Care Shelter.

The MAT-SU continues to be the fastest growing community in Alaska. Pets and strays continue to arrive as the population grows. The 24-year-old building cannot keep pace with the steady influx of animals or the space needs of large animals such as horses, among other constraints.

In the last 12 months, 3,660 animals were taken into the Animal Shelter, among those figures: 1,384 animals were adopted, 1,373 animals were euthanized (some at the owner's request), and 611 animals were returned to owners.

“By next summer, the shelter will be able to house and care for more than 200 animals,” said Marian Romano, Assistant Borough Manager. “This  decreases the frequency of one of the most painful jobs–the need to euthanize adoptable animals because there is no room.”

The expanded shelter will provide more kennels so animals have more time to be adopted. Veterinary care will be given in a proper facility. An indoor heated space for housing large animals will be available. Adoption rooms will allow families to get acquainted with a prospective new family member. More than half a dozen animal rescue groups have formed in the MAT-SU to help with unwanted or abandoned pets. Many of them are regular visitors to the shelter. The shelter volunteer training program is underway and the first two classes of graduates are already walking, grooming, and socializing animals at the shelter.

“The shelter and enforcement staff work seven days a week to care for animals and respond to animal emergencies,” Romano said. “But they couldn’t do it without the energetic volunteer organizations and citizens who help by fostering animals, donating food, toys, blankets and time.”

The expansion will be funded by the sale of Lease Certificates of Participation. In April, the Assembly unanimously appropriated $5.2 million dollars for the design and construction.

“We are beyond excitement,” said Dave Allison, Animal Care Chief. “Our ability to have any proactive programs is limited because presently there's only space for crisis management. There's no room for storage of any kind. We're stacked in here like cord wood, the animals and the people. There's no space for volunteers to sit down or hang a coat. Quarantine isolation rooms are consistently full. The new building will give us the expanded capacity we need to do the job well,” Allison said.

Groundbreaking takes place at 2 p.m. June 3, at the Animal Shelter of N. 49th State Street.

For more information call Assistant Borough Manager Marian Romano at 746-7405.
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