The current building housing the Quinte Humane Society is deteriorating quickly as they push for funding for a new one.
At Monday night’s Quinte West council meeting, Donna Endicott, chair of the QHS board, detailed the state of the building.
“We are literally one flush away from having to evacuate this current building. We’ve just simply run out of time and for the sake of the animals, the staff, the visitors, we really, desperately need a new home.”
Endicott went on to explain the building is too small leading to overcrowding of animals. She said the septic system is in disrepair which has led recently to flooding issues in the building, with QHS Executive Director Marilyn Lawrie saying they project to “keep enough bubble gum and Band-Aids on the building to get us through the next year-and-a-half.”
They also announced the scaling-back of the original $9.96 million, 16,000 square-foot design to a $5 million, 12,000 square-foot design. The new facility will be built on land already owned by QHS at Wallbridge-Loyalist Road North of Dundas Street.
Though scaled back, the new facility will feature all the necessities of a modern animal shelter as well as a mobile spay and neuter clinic.
With the rapid deterioration of the current building on Avonlough Road, Lawrie says they will break ground on the new facility in Spring 2021.
“This spring, securing permits and it’ll be shovel in the ground and the start of construction.”
Lawrie said they plan on having the new facility finished by fall of 2022.
The Quinte Humane Society board of directors also gained a new member on Monday. Lawrie explained they had been searching for someone to represent Quinte West on the board. Almost immediately, Councillor Leslie Roseblade volunteered.
At this time QHS has raised $3,002,756 towards the new facility. Presentations from potential builders are happening February 11 and 12 with the contract expected to be awarded by February 18.
