The Quinte Humane Society is in dire need of a new home. Some say it’s been that way for the past decade or two.
The west-end Belleville facility opened over 50 years ago, though it wasn’t built to be an animal shelter. Executive director Frank Rockett says it continues to be all about the animals and it’s been that way since day one. However, doing the job in an undersized and under-equipped facility is difficult.
“We’ve definitely reached the end of the usable lifetime of this building,” Rockett said. “We really don’t have the space and the resources to be fully effective here. We want what’s best for the animals. Unfortunately, although the staff do the best they can now, this is no longer what’s best for them.”
MORE: Quinte Humane Society over capacity and calls on community to adopt cats
Rockett says the current Avonlough Road location was never meant to be an animal shelter; in fact, it was originally a bull breeding facility. Today the bulls have been replaced with cats and kittens of every size and shape as well as dogs, rabbits, and even a pot-bellied pig.
Rockett says the society has already approached Prince Edward County as well as the city of Belleville about funding for a new home, and next up will be Quinte West.
Get daily National news
“A new facility would give us capacity to work with the animals more effectively, help them to become more adoptable faster and also give us the space to deal with the influxes we get each season. I think we’re looking at about $10 million for the entire project.”
MORE: Gananoque Humane Society looking for Help
Land for a new home has already been purchased on Wallbridge-Loyalist Road. Rockett says he’d love to see a new shelter ready and open by early 2022.
- ‘A foreign policy based on short memory’: Carney continues push to diversify from the U.S.
- Oil surges to highest price since 2023 as Iran war chokes Strait of Hormuz
- Canada and Japan sign partnership deal on defence, energy, trade
- Alcohol sales in Canada just saw ‘largest’ annual drop since tracking began
-
![]()
New Brunswick recognizes several women for their work towards gender equality -
![]()
Supreme Court of Canada rules refugees should have access to subsidized daycare in Quebec -
![]()
Pointe-Claire unveils monument to young boy who tragically lost his life at Terra-Cotta Nature Park -
![]()
Nova Scotians gathered in solidarity with Black and Indigenous voices after a week of budget protests
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.