|
|
|
Construction on Sussex County’s first no-kill animal shelter is moving along swiftly with plans to open by late fall.
The Safe Haven Sanctuary, which plans to house up to 400 cats and dogs at any given time, has been constructing its brand new 19,500-square-foot facility since 2008. The property will sit on 13 acres of land just a mile and a half off Route 9 near Georgetown.
Anne Gryczon, executive director of Safe Haven, said the organization is excited to be the first commercial building in Sussex County to be LEED certified, which means it will meet the standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
The environmentally friendly building has been designed to include geothermal heating, a temperature-moderating courtyard and a vegetative roof.
“It’s wonderful for the environment, it will be much healthier for the animals and although we invested more for these green technologies, it will end up saving us money on our utility costs,” Gryczon said.
The facility will include four areas, including a separate dog and cat wing, a medical facility and an adoption education center.
“The wings are room-based rather than cage-based,” Gryczon said. “This will allow potential adopters to interact with the animals a lot more easily.”
All in all, the facility is said to cost approximately $4 million, which has been heavily donated by community supporters and partially funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan.
Gryczon said the mission of Safe Haven is to save the lives of abused and abandoned animals, with an emphasis on Sussex County, but with a broader scope of the entire state as well.
Several of the organization’s programs will expand once the new facility is up and running, she said. These include the Life Preserver Dog Program, which transports homeless dogs to no-kill shelters in northern New England, where the demand for dogs in shelters exceeds the supply; the Pet Food Pantry, which helps families in need feed their animals; the trap-neuter-return program, which helps reduce feral cat colonies; and a medical emergency fund, which allows the facility to immediately provide the care needed to restore the health of one of the Life Preserver Dogs or a cats being neutered.
Right now, Gryczon said the organization utilizes local kennels and foster homes to house the more than 25 dogs they are currently caring for. Cats are not currently accepted.
Construction on Sussex County’s first no-kill animal shelter is moving along swiftly with plans to open by late fall.
The Safe Haven Sanctuary, which plans to house up to 400 cats and dogs at any given time, has been constructing its brand new 19,500-square-foot facility since 2008. The property will sit on 13 acres of land just a mile and a half off Route 9 near Georgetown.
Anne Gryczon, executive director of Safe Haven, said the organization is excited to be the first commercial building in Sussex County to be LEED certified, which means it will meet the standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
The environmentally friendly building has been designed to include geothermal heating, a temperature-moderating courtyard and a vegetative roof.
“It’s wonderful for the environment, it will be much healthier for the animals and although we invested more for these green technologies, it will end up saving us money on our utility costs,” Gryczon said.
The facility will include four areas, including a separate dog and cat wing, a medical facility and an adoption education center.
“The wings are room-based rather than cage-based,” Gryczon said. “This will allow potential adopters to interact with the animals a lot more easily.”
All in all, the facility is said to cost approximately $4 million, which has been heavily donated by community supporters and partially funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan.
Gryczon said the mission of Safe Haven is to save the lives of abused and abandoned animals, with an emphasis on Sussex County, but with a broader scope of the entire state as well.
Several of the organization’s programs will expand once the new facility is up and running, she said. These include the Life Preserver Dog Program, which transports homeless dogs to no-kill shelters in northern New England, where the demand for dogs in shelters exceeds the supply; the Pet Food Pantry, which helps families in need feed their animals; the trap-neuter-return program, which helps reduce feral cat colonies; and a medical emergency fund, which allows the facility to immediately provide the care needed to restore the health of one of the Life Preserver Dogs or a cats being neutered.
Right now, Gryczon said the organization utilizes local kennels and foster homes to house the more than 25 dogs they are currently caring for. Cats are not currently accepted.
Those interested in learning more about the new facility or the organization itself will have a chance during a special fundraiser at Abbott’s Grill in Milford Sunday, Sept. 25. The restaurant will donate 10 percent of its total sales from 4 to 8 p.m. Representatives from the organization will be on hand to provide patrons with information and to answer questions.
Dog-owners are welcome to bring their four-legged friends out to the restaurant for a “Yappy Hour” on the outside patio during the fundraiser.
Gryczon said it’s been a long road getting to the new facility, but the final result will be worth the wait. In the meantime, the organization is always in need of donations, dog walkers and foster parents.
“Our goal is to be a safety net for animals in our community,” she said.
