Homeless animals in St. Paul are hopefully just a few months away from finding shelter with news the St. Paul & District Animal Shelter is moving ahead with plans to establish a new animal rescue centre this year.
St. Paul has been without a shelter to take in animals since a summer rainstorm swept through the community in the summer of 2016. Torrential rain combined with a leaky roof to flood the shelter. In short order, mold set in and the old building eventually had to be demolished, leaving the organization without a home.
Shelter president Anna Leskiw told the Journal Friday, the replacement animal rescue centre will be located on land it owns just west of St. Paul near the Lafond intersection.
“We’re building this spring. It’s not the building we originally wanted but it is the backup plan.”
The group was unsuccessful in obtaining much-hoped for funding through the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) last year and, as a result, has had to sideline its original plan to build a 4,000-square-foot facility. Without the CFEP grant, the $488,000 price tag was out of the group’s reach.
“We’ve had so many people tell us no, so much disappointment,” Leskiw said.
The backup plan is to make use of a quonset located on the property, renovating it to house rescue dogs. This will involve installing a concrete floor, utilities, adding insulation and fitting it with the dog kennels and fencing saved from their original building. A new water well and septic service will need to be installed at the property and a new 40ft x 40ft shop will be built to house the stray cats taken in, and also the group’s office, exam room, quarantine area and mechanical room. The price tag for this endeavour is estimated at $230,000 and will consume all of the group’s resources and then some.
“It will take everything we have,” Leskiw admitted, but she is excited to move forward with establishing a facility for animals in need. “We have to get this built. It just rips my heart out when you see an animal in need. Yes, the bigger building would have been nice, but this is just the start. We can add onto the building later.”
Amber Newbury is one St. Paul resident who will be pleased to hear the news. Out of sheer frustration, she contacted the St. Paul Journal last month to relay the story of a stray dog picked up near Ecole du Sommet, given shelter in a local shop only to escape and later get hit by a vehicle and found dead in the street at the east end of town.
“If we had a proper facility, then I think this wouldn’t have happened,” Newbury said, adding she feels the problem of stray animals in St. Paul is only getting worse as time goes on. “I think the town really needs an eye-opener on this issue.”
Shelter manager Josiah Clarke said he was aware of the incident and agreed it was heartbreaking. He said incidents like this speak to the dire need for a shelter in the community.
Clarke said he does what he can to find safe places for strays. It’s not always easy, especially since many places are operating at capacity. There is a small network of private citizens who will provide a temporary home for animals until other arrangements can be made. He has been coordinating with other shelters including Bonnyville, Edmonton and Calgary to help find sanctuary for animals as he is able to.
“We’ve asked people to hold onto them while we try and find placement,” he said.
He said obviously the organization “is operating at a pretty reduced capacity” and has been since the loss of its building.
Operating out of office space at Community Futures in downtown St. Paul, Clarke said much of his time these days is focused on securing funds to support the shelter’s operations and developing the building plans. There are few avenues for grant monies for animal rescue centres. Private sector donations are much appreciated and, Clarke emphasized, every little bit helps. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter office or done directly though PayPal online using the group’s email address – [email protected]
“It’s very important we get a shelter here. Without one there is nowhere to go to find a lost pet, no place to bring a stray and nowhere to keep animals in need safe.”
