Time for a new, modern county animal shelter

Supporters of the Miami County Animal Shelter say it is past time to build a larger, modern shelter for operations.

“They have done an astonishing job of utilizing every possible space to its best usage,” said Heidi Scribner, president of the MCPAW organization, of the staff and the current shelter.

Area residents will be hearing more about the need for and the benefits of a new shelter facility in coming weeks as the Miami County Partners for Animal Welfare, or MCPAW, steps up its fundraising efforts.

The estimated cost of the proposed new shelter is $5 million on the low end to $7.5 million, Scribner said.

She and Rob Craft, shelter director, recently provided a tour of the existing shelter on North County Road 25A, next to the county Fairgrounds, and discussed the need for more space and updated facilities.

The current shelter, including indoor and outdoor space, is 6,068 square feet. The proposed new shelter is 12,995 square feet total.

The current shelter housing capacity is 33 for dogs and 20 for cats. The new shelter is being designed to accommodate 48 dogs and 30 cats.

The Miami County commissioners are willing to provide the land for a new shelter. The targeted location is land north of Lytle Road, a short distance from County Road 25A, north of Troy. The commissioners also earlier agreed to provide $25,000 for planning the new shelter and set aside $250,000 from county American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds.

Shelter Planners of America is designing the new shelter.

Among other shelter features would be:

- Two-compartment kennel design, allowing dogs to eat, sleep and rest in space separate from where they eliminate, enabling staff to clean kennels more easily and quickly and with better sanitation for dogs and humans.

- Puppies to be housed separate from adult dogs.

- Cat housing will have two-compartment cages allowing cage cleaning without having to relocate the cats.

- Two community, free-roaming cat rooms will allow for visitation and socialization of several cats at a time.

- Adoption interview area to assist adoptees in finding the perfect pet.

- Dog and cat “maternity wards” and nursing rooms for new mothers.

- State of the art, hospital grade, climate-controlled HVAC in dog and cat housing areas.

The shelter site also would include increased parking, specialized ventilation for odor and disease control, multipurpose meeting room for staff meetings and community events and a medical clinic to allow for in-building animal care and larger events such as spay/neuter days or microchip clinics.

“We have been trying to think outside of the box and not just make a shelter that is going to meet our immediate needs but what can this building to help us help the community far into the future,” Craft said.

The proposal has been well received at public presentations, such as at service club gatherings, Scribner said. “I am excited about how many people are excited about it. It is just fantastic,” she said.

Sponsorship opportunities are available such as shelter naming rights sponsorship, animal support areas, cat condos and exterior areas among others.

A kick-off fundraising event is planned in March with donations to the effort always welcome, Scribner said.

For more information, contact Heidi Scribner, president, at MiamiCountyPAW@yahoo.com.