The dogs’ tail wagged, the cats meowed, and Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley staff and volunteers rejoiced on Thursday afternoon with the opening of their new $ 1.8 million animal shelter along Church Street in New Kensington.
The facility is the first large-scale animal shelter in the lower Alle-Kiski valley.
In addition to medical and animal shelter arrangements, there is now space for animal training, adoption meetings, community outreach and more.
Previously, Animal Protectors operated in a small building along Linden Avenue in New Kensington, which for years was poorly equipped with adequate ventilation or adequate space to care for animals.
The efforts of the new shelter council president, Phyllis Framel, and others have turned into an odyssey for almost eight years to find a new, larger home.
They were refused in Allegheny Township and Lower Burrell to locate the shelter there.
Then, in 2016, they got the old school at 730 Church St. in the city. Shelter staff faced typical and atypical fundraising and construction challenges, including shutdowns caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
“We did it,” said Framel on Thursday. “Many people have worked hard, and now we have these wonderful facilities for the community and the surrounding area.
“We have been around for 54 years and we hope to serve for another 54 years with expanded services and a healthier environment for animals,” she said.
There was little fanfare with Thursday’s ribbon cutting ceremony at the entrance to the new shelter, as board members, staff, volunteers and the media turned their attention to the dogs and cats that arrived one by one when entering the shelter.
Kevin, Joker and Harley – all mixed breeds – were among the dogs brought on the leashes for enthusiastic shelter staff and volunteers who called out their names, greeting each animal.
Predictably, the cats maintained their indifferent behavior when they arrived in porters. They were quickly taken to their new home with side rooms with litter boxes next to their cages and a set of windows allowing sunlight to flood the room.
The facility will house the current crop from the shelter of about 16 cats and eight dogs.
The new shelter, which is about 14,000 square feet, is almost five times the size of the old shelter.
The new location also features modern kennels with glass doors, several medical rooms with waiting areas and sophisticated ventilation to constantly refresh the air and also contain circulation in the medical rooms to prevent the spread of viruses.
“When I saw the sign outside this new shelter today, I almost cried,” said Dr. Betsy Kennon, who offers professional veterinary services for the shelter.
“This is our home forever and we can do a lot for these creatures now,” she said.
Kennon marveled at the individual medical rooms, filled with a sink, stainless steel examination tables and kennels.
“It will be good to no longer have to examine an animal on the floor or on the counter,” she said.
The project was made possible by some six-digit legacies from area residents, along with other donations from individuals and foundation grants, Framel said.
Some of the large donations came from volunteers, while other large individual donations were a complete surprise, she said.
“Animals are a big part of people’s lives, especially now during the pandemic,” said Framel. “People realize that there is a need for stray, mistreated and abandoned animals to find a home and it is a mission that is dear to the hearts of some residents.”
As the animals move into the new shelter on Thursday, it will take days to settle completely, said Framel.
Although the facility is closed to the transit of people, animal adoptions are in progress, but are only offered by prior appointment.
For more information, visit the Animal Protectors website and call their offices at 724-339-7388.
Canzian / Johnston and Associates, an architecture firm in New Kensington, planned the renovated space with shelter staff. Construction work was provided by Masco Construction, Inc.
Mary Ann Thomas is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Mary at 724-226-4691, [email protected] or via Twitter .
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