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When times get tough, dogs and cats will have a new 19,500-square-foot facility to call their own when the Safe Haven Animal Shelter partially opens in Georgetown next month.
Donna Meier, a member of the Safe Haven Animal Shelter’s board of directors, emphasizes that the facility, which will be able to house 400 dogs and cats, is also the first commercial building in Sussex County to be LEED certified. LEED certification guarantees that structures meet the standards set by the US. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy an Environmental Design.
“We’ve got geothermal wells, a temperature-moderating courtyard, a vegetative roof, and it’s passive solar to keep operating costs low,” Meier said. “It was important to us to reduce the environmental impact of the structure as much as possible.”
In addition to the environmentally friendly design, the structure will accommodate the animals with a cage-free atmosphere. Meier said that the dormitory-based structure allows dogs to share a room that is outfitted with a rug and windows but the animals will not be stressed out by the noise of the other animals so often heard in other shelters.
“The dogs will be able to see people in the hallway and some will be able to see the courtyard rather than being in cages where anther dog is barking at them or right next to them,” Meier said. “To us, it’s a better way.”
Meier added that the rooms potentially make the animals more adoptable. Constant and excessive noise can stress the dog out, affecting the animal’s personality.
“When an animal is taken in by animal control or dropped off by their family, they are already in a stressful situation,” Meier said. “You don’t want to increase that stress by having them in this incredibly noisy, scary environment. Plus, the rooms give people a better opportunity to see and interact with the animal.
According to Meier, cats also suffer from irritability and depression when placed in cages. The new Safe Haven facility will also have rooms designated for cats that will feature lounging structures as well as other cats for company.
LONG TERM GOALS
As the facility gets up and running, several of the organization’s programs will expand.
These include the Pet Food Pantry which assists struggling pet owners feed their animals; the Life Preserver Dog Program which works in conjunction with the Kent County SPCA to transport animals into the no-kill Safe Haven community; Emergency medical care services for treatment of disease or injury; and, a spay-and-neuter program that will assist financially strapped families cover the cost of exams and procedures.
When times get tough, dogs and cats will have a new 19,500-square-foot facility to call their own when the Safe Haven Animal Shelter partially opens in Georgetown next month.
Donna Meier, a member of the Safe Haven Animal Shelter’s board of directors, emphasizes that the facility, which will be able to house 400 dogs and cats, is also the first commercial building in Sussex County to be LEED certified. LEED certification guarantees that structures meet the standards set by the US. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy an Environmental Design.
“We’ve got geothermal wells, a temperature-moderating courtyard, a vegetative roof, and it’s passive solar to keep operating costs low,” Meier said. “It was important to us to reduce the environmental impact of the structure as much as possible.”
In addition to the environmentally friendly design, the structure will accommodate the animals with a cage-free atmosphere. Meier said that the dormitory-based structure allows dogs to share a room that is outfitted with a rug and windows but the animals will not be stressed out by the noise of the other animals so often heard in other shelters.
“The dogs will be able to see people in the hallway and some will be able to see the courtyard rather than being in cages where anther dog is barking at them or right next to them,” Meier said. “To us, it’s a better way.”
Meier added that the rooms potentially make the animals more adoptable. Constant and excessive noise can stress the dog out, affecting the animal’s personality.
“When an animal is taken in by animal control or dropped off by their family, they are already in a stressful situation,” Meier said. “You don’t want to increase that stress by having them in this incredibly noisy, scary environment. Plus, the rooms give people a better opportunity to see and interact with the animal.
According to Meier, cats also suffer from irritability and depression when placed in cages. The new Safe Haven facility will also have rooms designated for cats that will feature lounging structures as well as other cats for company.
LONG TERM GOALS
As the facility gets up and running, several of the organization’s programs will expand.
These include the Pet Food Pantry which assists struggling pet owners feed their animals; the Life Preserver Dog Program which works in conjunction with the Kent County SPCA to transport animals into the no-kill Safe Haven community; Emergency medical care services for treatment of disease or injury; and, a spay-and-neuter program that will assist financially strapped families cover the cost of exams and procedures.
Another goal of Safe Haven Animal Shelter is the animal control contract for Sussex County. Currently, the Kent County SPCA provides dog control services in the county which includes investigating complaints, retrieving unleashed dogs, and inspecting kennel operations.
Meier stated that when the county decides to put out a request-for-proposal, the Safe Haven Animal Organization has a community-driven, lower cost program they would like to present.
“We would implement a whole new kind of animal control that’s community based where the goal is, whenever possibly, to not put the dog on the truck but to knock on a few doors and ask about the dog,” Meier said. “It saves money. Once you take a dog into a shelter, by law, the dog has to get a vet exam, a rabies shot, a distemper shot. But, if you can have the dog go home, you don’t have to pay for that.”
Eddy Parker, director of the Sussex County Assessment Division said that while Delaware Animal Care and Control was awarded the original contract in December of 2009, it is possible that a request for proposals could open up for a new contract that would begin January 1, 2013.
“Based on the quality of service that we have received over the last two years, I will be recommending a final one-year extension to the council at their November 29 meeting,” Parker said. “However, if Sussex County Council extends the current contract, I would anticipate preparing a request for proposal in July or August of next year.”
Parker added that the RFP would afford an opportunity for all vendors to submit proposals and that the cost to Sussex County, in man hours, advertising, and legal fees in the preparation of an RFP is also a contributing factor to his recommendation.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Another goal of the organization is to support the community the way that the community has supported Safe Haven.
“A big part of this has been jobs. A lot of people have been employed during the construction phase but we will have other jobs for the community as well once we are up and running,” Meier said.
According to Gryczon, it depends on funding but the shelter could create at least 20 new jobs for the community from an adoption coordinator and clerical staff to janitorial services.
As for funding, even though Safe Haven would like the animal control contract, they are not dependent upon it for operating costs. They have many grants and donations pour in regularly.
“We have very committed supporters,” Meier said. “I just picked up a check this week from a local school bus driver who wanted to honor the memory of his wife by donating $25,000. And, his donation is amazing but he’s not the only one. We are blessed everyday by people who are committed to us and committed to animals.”
