GAFFNEY — Building on a brand new animal shelter for stray animals is scheduled to start in early 2023 on Cherokee Avenue between Blacksburg and Gaffney.
Cherokee County Council is scheduled to award a bid for the challenge Nov. 21.
Cherokee County Administrator Steve Bratton advised The Put up and Courier building is more likely to value between $3.5 million and $4.5 million for a 14,000-square-foot facility to exchange the present animal shelter operated by the county at 300 Yale St. in Gaffney.
Bratton mentioned a brand new animal shelter would come with house for the Humane Society of Cherokee County to carry pet adoptions.
“The prevailing animal shelter is outdated and could be very outdated,” Bratton mentioned. “We’ve some wants so far as updating amenities and that (animal shelter) was on high of the record.”
The brand new shelter would offer house for 156 canines and 50 cats. The prevailing facility can home 51 animals,
If building begins in early 2023, the challenge could be accomplished by early 2024.
“It will likely be situated centrally between Gaffney and Blacksburg on property we lately acquired from Hamrick Mills,” Bratton mentioned. “We’re enthusiastic about it as a result of it is going to be a step up from our current facility for certain.”
Between 2,500 and three,000 stray animals are despatched to the shelter yearly, in line with Humane Society of Cherokee County Treasurer Beth Osment.
Osment mentioned the Humane Society companions with the county to assist rescue animals from the shelter. Since 2010, 60,000 animals have been despatched to the shelter.
“Proper now, the reclaim charge could be very low,” Osment mentioned. “The prevailing shelter is in horrible form and harmful for animals. We had a canine escape this previous week. Animals additionally get injured as a result of the fencing between every kennel is broken and chewed up.”
Osment mentioned the brand new shelter will embrace an adoption heart. The prevailing shelter does not have an adoption heart and solely house owners are allowed to reclaim their animals inside 5 days earlier than their animals are euthanized. The Humane Society operates a separate shelter that features 20 canine kennels and a room for cats.
“The brand new shelter will assist us save extra animals and their house owners could have extra time to come back and reclaim their animals,” Osment mentioned.
As Cherokee County pushes ahead on setting up a brand new animal shelter, Spartanburg County continues to guage its wants on find out how to maintain stray animals.
Spartanburg County Administrator Cole Alverson advised The Put up and Courier a marketing consultant, Sara Pizano of Florida-based Crew Shelter, is scheduled to offer Spartanburg County Council with a report on Nov. 30 on what it may cost a little to construct an animal shelter and what packages the county might implement to divert animals from going to a shelter.
In 2011, the county ended its partnership with the Spartanburg Humane Society, sending its stray animals as a substitute to Greenville County Animal Care. In April, Greenville County Animal Care introduced it might not settle for Spartanburg County’s stray animals starting June 30. The settlement was prolonged to proceed taking animals whereas Spartanburg County finds one other different.
Observe Chris Lavender on Twitter @spartanburgpc
