CENTERVILLE – The Cape Cod branch of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is in the middle of a campaign to raise funds to build a new animal shelter.
The plans call for a new facility at the same location on Route 28 in Centerville.
MSPCA Cape Cod Shelter Director Mary Sarah Fairweather said the non-profit organization is just over halfway to its $4 million fundraising goal and has brought in $2.28 million.
The campaign is entirely privately funded and Fairweather said they have received generous donations from a few hundred individuals and trusts.
“Ideally we would love to break ground next year but we do have to raise some more money before we can even start thinking about that,” Fairweather said.
The proposed 10,000 square-foot facility would replace the current shelter and house which contains administrative offices.
“We are using every square inch of space to house the animals that we care for,” she said. “And there is absolutely a demand for a larger space. A space that is much more comfortable for the animals that we care for.”
The current plan would be to demolish the house and put offices in portable trailers and move all animals to the shelter.
The new shelter would then be built in the footprint of the former house and operations would not stop.
“We plan to stay open until the day we turn off the lights in the old building and turn on the lights in the new building,” Fairweather said.
Fairweather said the goal is to be known for more than just being a shelter.
“We really are looking forward to creating a facility that will be a center for animal welfare,” she said. “So that people can come in to adopt an animal, surrender an animal, use our resources such as our food pantry, our rabies and microchip clinics, our spay and neuter clinics.”
The MSPCA also holds educational lectures and are hoping to start a camp for children to interact with animals and learn about animal welfare.
“Yes it will be an animal shelter but it will be so much more than that.”
Donations for the new shelter can be made at mspca.org/capecampaign.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
Speak Your Mind