NORTH BATTLEFORD - It was a long time coming but the Battlefords Humane Society has finally moved into its new building off Highway 4 North, just on the outskirts of North Battleford.
About 80 cats and dogs were moved from the old facility to the new shelter site on the weekend, which opened to the public on July 21.
Battlefords Humane Society board secretary Laurel Fauth was thrilled to have the project completed.
"It's awesome; it's great," she said.
The new facility is larger than the old space and has improved circulation. The new site is just over 4,600 square feet in size.
"The cost of the whole project, with the land and the kennel and new shelter is probably just over $3 million," Fauth said. "We are still $300,000 short. We're hoping to raise that 10 per cent."
From the $3 million, the cost of the shelter building on its own is about $2 million.
The Battlefords Humane Society (BHS) previously built the kennel, BHS Boarding and Grooming, to provide another revenue stream to help support the cost of the project.
Fauth said the new shelter provides more options for pets awaiting adoption and is also an improved environment for the shelter staff.
"The staff are all happier and the pets are happier too," she said.
The old facility in North Battleford was too crowded for the animals and had poor air circulation. It also had mould.
Another benefit of the new bigger site is being able to control the spread of disease.
The Battlefords Humane Society is planning to hold a grand opening celebration at the new site in late August or early September.
North Battleford resident Beth Mitchell and her family stopped into the new shelter on July 21 and were impressed with the space.
She said her uncle, Terry Blanchette, used to be president of the Battlefords Humane Society board, so the facility means a lot to her family.
"I'm really happy that this new facility is open, because I know they've been fundraising for years," Mitchell said. "I'm just so happy for the animals to have a brand new clean space."
