The Greater Moncton SPCA says despite initially being denied a grant for funding, they remain hopeful the city will chip in and help with their plans for a new facility.
After more than 30 years operating out of the same location, the aging building is nearing the end of its life.
Cracked metal door frames, heating systems that are decades old and a hallway prone to flooding are just a few of the issues that have them prepping for a new home along with the need for protecting the health of their furry residents.
“Where the concrete and cinder block come together, it’s a bit grey and that’s because there’s water laying in there,” explained executive director Dave Rogers of some of their dog cages. “That’s where the viruses and bacteria are hiding out and breeding.”
“In the ’70s, when they designed this building … there were no standards like there are today for shelters and kennels.”
Plans to create a new building have been in the works for the last few years and a parcel of land had already been picked out.
But a recent denial of funding by the City of Moncton was a disappointment they weren’t expecting.
When they posted the news on their Facebook page, they were inundated with support from animal lovers while the city took the brunt of it.
“We’ve been negotiating with municipal governments and so on and making applications for different grants and just had a little bad news on Friday that that might not be available,” Rogers explained.
Following the online backlash, Rogers says the city reached out to them and advised they would be reviewing their case in the coming days, giving staff a much more positive outlook for their relocation and construction plans.
“I have found out recently there’s been some miscommunication,” he said. “We’re really hoping going forward now with this that we’ll be able to talk with the different municipalities and that funding will get sorted out and be forthcoming.”
“We have no doubt in our mind that everyone will come together in the end and help us,” Rogers said.
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