Shelton has a new, bigger and better animal shelter with an expanded staff who would like to make your acquaintance.
The $1.4 million facility at 11 Brewster Lane (off Riverdale Avenue), approved by residents in a 2012 referendum, opened its doors a few months ago.
The Board of Aldermen also bumped up the facility’s operating budget from about $126,000 to $189,000 last year.
The new shelter brings animal control in Shelton into the 21st century, a contrast to the uninviting pound-like facility it replaced, which still stands a block away.
Gone are the days of “an old guy with a net,” said Lt. Robert Kozlowsky, the police department’s spokesman, whose duties also include overseeing animal control in the city.
Kozlwosky and the animal shelter’s staff gave the Valley Indy a tour of the facility Dec. 16 in an effort to showcase the facility and invite the public to come on down.
The hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the shelter’s staffers said residents can also schedule appointments outside those hours or on weekends by calling the shelter at 203 – 924-2501.
The shelter is about 6,000 square feet, nearly quadruple the space of the old shelter.
It has new “dog runs” outside to give animals exercise.
The shelter also has rooms for cats, unlike the old facility.
And the cages for animals are all indoors, as opposed to the former shelter.
“Now they’re inside,” Kozlowsky said of the animals. “Everything’s temperature-controlled.”
But aside from the technical pluses of the new building, Kozlowsky said a building committee overseeing the construction of the shelter wanted to make it a place that was inviting to residents.
“They designed it to be more friendly, more open,” he said. “The old place was more of an old school pound.”
To that end, the building has a bigger reception area, and a “community room” where Animal Control Officers Michelle DeAngelo and Jason McLain can give presentations to groups.
The building also has rooms where those interested in adopting an animal can spend time with it to bond.
“The other place was just a little office and then the cages,” Kozlowsky said.
As of Dec. 16 the facility was hosting two cats and nine dogs.
Here’s a PDF showing the pooches that were in residence Dec. 16.
Donate
In the spirit of the season, shelter employees are also asking local animal-lovers with the means to do so to consider making a donation to the shelter.
The Friends of the Shelton Animal Shelter, a local nonprofit group, provides a lot of support, employees said.
Click here to visit the Friends’ page on Facebook.
The shelter also has a Facebook page. Click here to visit.
In addition, the shelter also accepts donations directly.
Article continues after flier with a “wish list” of the most needed items.
In addition to those items, the shelter also needs cat food — canned “Fancy Feast” — scoopable litter, and dry cat food — Purina One chicken/turkey.
Though only open for a few months thus far, employees say residents who have stopped by have been impressed with the new facility, especially when contrasted with the old, uninviting location.
The main point is to make the place an attractive, welcoming shelter where people can feel comfortable and, after an application process, eventually go home with a rescued animal of their own.
“The main goal is to get the animals adopted as pets,” Kozlowsky said. “That’s been our main mission with this new shelter, to work with the public and be more open with the public … It’s night and day from the old shelter.”
