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After 60 years at its old home, the Regina Humane Society is getting ready to move.
Staff members are planning to move out of the old building on Armour Road at the start of the fall. The new building is being built on Parliament Avenue.
Before that, humane society executive director Lisa Koch said there’s still a little more fundraising to be done. The society has brought in $800,000 since January.
Koch said they still need $1.2 million to be able to finish construction.
“We are really hoping that our community comes together and helps us get home to the new facility, which is really going to be a game-changer for animal welfare in our community, (it’s) certainly accessible, and a bright, open space for animals as well as people who visit the centre,” said Koch.
The new building located in the Harbour Landing neighbourhood is almost double the size of the old building. Animal suites, an on-site veterinarian clinic, three large classrooms, and a large green space are just some of the features that were incorporated into the new building’s design.
Koch said meeting capacity at the old building became a problem over the years.
“Our capacity here at the old facility was incredibly limited so it’s really going to advance our ability to provide treatment to animals that arrive in our doors in desperate need of medical care,” said Koch.
Proper air circulation and the ability to provide disease control are limited by the age of the building. Koch added there was not a “closet left in the building that hasn’t been turned into an office or a storage space.”
“This building is literally falling apart, and it really doesn’t reflect the public’s perception and the expectation for animal welfare has changed since this shelter was built 60 years ago,” said Koch.
A focus on community was incorporated into the design of the building. The larger design was to improve the animals’ quality of living. The humane society’s goal has always been to have animals come into the building, recover, go into foster care, and be adopted as fast as possible.
According to Koch, the new centre will better connect volunteers to the animals.
“This facility really is a tool to help animals in our community and bring animals and people together and keep animals and people together,” said Koch.
The new building will introduce a communal spaces for cats, much like the spaces that dogs have. The space will lower stress levels and prevent disease. While biosecurity in the facility is still emphasized, Koch said eliminating stress can keep cats from getting sick.
“While there are still protocols to make sure animals are still healthy, we certainly understand that having animals come in and spend time with the animals and having time to socialize with each other improves their qualify of life and certainly their health and welfare overall,” Koch said.
It might be tough to leave the old building, but Koch said staff members are ready to head into the new centre.
“This building has given us a lot, given the animals a lot, and given our community a lot over the years,” she said. “I think we are going to miss it.”
