Our New Animal Shelter

Last month we took a major step forward towards the completion of a new Rockland County Animal Shelter. I joined with County Legislature Majority Leader Jay Hood, our Director of Facilities Management Bob Gruffi and Hi-Tor Board President Debbie DiBernardo to break ground on the new $8.3 million facility in Pomona.

In late October we published a Request for Bid for the construction of the new animal shelter building. The bidding period is open for 6 weeks at which point the bids will be reviewed and evaluated before the bid is awarded. The contract will then go through the County Legislature’s review process before being signed and executed. Construction is expected to begin between April 15th and May 1st.

What was once nothing but a dream will soon be a concrete reality. The new shelter is designed not only to provide a healthy home for the animals but also to promote and facilitate pet adoptions in a warm and welcoming environment.

Some of the features of the new 14,000 square foot shelter include:

· Public Waiting Area with an Adoption Counseling Room and Playroom
· Adoptable Dog and Cat Housing Wards with an Exercise Yard for Dogs and Playrooms for Cats
· Improved Administrative Space and a Staff Breakroom
· Separate Food Prep and Bathing Areas for Dogs and Cats
· Veterinary Medical Area
· Quarantine and Isolation Areas for Dogs and Cats

The design and features are based on a professional needs assessment study which determined exactly what was needed in a new facility. We have budgeted a total of $8.3 million for the new shelter with funding having been secured from the following sources:

· $472,578 from the Hi-Tor Shelter Fund
· $500,000 in grant funding from Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski
· $500,000 in grant funding from the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund
· $6.9 million in Rockland County Capital Project Funding

We are committed to working with Hi-Tor and taking the lead on this critical shared service. Ensuring that the Towns will not have the burden of building their own shelters or finding alternative plans at a significant cost; a clear savings for residents and a victory for the animals we all care about.

While I know it has taken a long time, with many discussions and promises made over the years, this state-of-the-art facility is worth waiting for. Getting it right for our residents, these animals and our taxpayers was also worth waiting for.