Humane society wants to construct additional building

LANCASTER – In order to have more space to house sick dogs and cats, puppies not yet ready for adoption, and victims of animal cruelty, the Fairfield Area Humane Society wants to construct an additional building behind its location at 1721 Granville Pike.

“I think everyone at this point with animal rescue and the community knows we could have a building 10 times the size of what we have and it’s going to be full,” Executive Director Corey Schoonover said. “So you have to know that you’re going to be able to afford to maintain it, to staff it and all of that. We’re just finally in a situation where we’ve kind of turned a corner, and 1,700 square feet to make our process a little more efficient is something that we feel we can handle.”

He said too much space would not be good because the agency would not be able to afford it.

“So I think that fits right into how we’ve been doing, and I think we can better handle the demand from the community,” Schoonover said.

He said he wants the building ready before winter.

On May 1 the humane society started a campaign to raise the $60,000 needed for the new building. The campaign is called 100 Days of Giving, or 100 D.O.G. The campaign is set to end on Aug. 8, and Schoonover said it has generated about $7,000 to $8,000 so far.

If the full amount is not raised, he said, the construction will be completed in stages, depending on how much money is available.

“It’s one of those things that’s separate from our normal operating budget,” Schoonover said. “So just as we did with the dog park and as we’ve done with renovations throughout the shelter through the last few years, as we get the money, we’ll make it happen.”

Schoonover said the humane society serves about 800 to 850 animals each year. The new building would have eight new kennels, adding to the current 16 on-site now. It also would include a storage area and a garage and would be used for the agency’s spay and neuter clinics.

The new building would free up more space in the current building for animals ready for adoption, as so many others would be in the new building.

Call the humane society at 740-687-0627 or visit www.fairhumane.org for more information about the building and how to donate to the building fund.

jbarron@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron