Animal shelter reports progress on phase 1 renovations, outlines phase 2 dog-park plan and donation priorities

Kinsey Reddington, who identified herself as the animal services manager, told the committee the shelter is in phase 1 of a renovation program intended to improve durability, sanitation and animal welfare.

Reddington said crews have reskinned kennel exteriors, replaced walls in adoption kennels and cat/puppy rooms with fiberglass-reinforced panels (FRP) for easier cleaning, installed mini-splits, put in drop ceilings and are replacing floors. She said work in Cat Room B and the Building B washroom is expected to be finished by next Tuesday and that floors should be complete by June 27, with staff aiming to start moving animals back in the first week of July.

The manager also outlined phase 2 plans that would affect the administration building and intake area, including what she called "Central Bark," a dog-park-style upgrade aimed at keeping vehicle traffic out of the shelter center lane.

On funding, Reddington opened a committee discussion on the shelter's separate donation account and invited ideas for direct animal-welfare investments. Committee ideas included enrichment (toys, play structures, play-group training), community outreach and education materials to promote spay/neuter, and a mobile adoption trailer that could also function as a mobile vaccination unit. A committee member asked about concreting the pathway between the office and kennels to improve access, and staff agreed to include donation-account spending as an agenda item at a future meeting so members can review proposals in advance.

Chair noted the donation account is separate from the city account and urged committee members to propose priorities for the next agenda.