New Care Facility Opens

Aahh yes! The Facility. The new Facility. It was a long time in waiting, but we're overjoyed that it is finally here!

I have to admit, picking the busiest time of year to have all of this construction begin wasn't the smartest thing ever decided, but I was determined, solid as a rock - once things began to roll with just the mere talking of destruction of the old building and the re-construction of the new.

It all began early March with the packing of things that have accumulated since the late 1980s - OH MY!!! Then on March 14th, the Bobcat and the dump truck rolled in and construction people started appearing. 

Immediately, they began tearing down and exposing the skeleton of the facility. It took four days to complete the demolition and cleaning up of debris. Meanwhile, we were working out of my daughter's motor home (what a swell kid to let mom borrow it and fill it with animals.). 

We were parked at the curb where the old building once stood. There we worked as if it was no big deal. We took animals in, cared for, fed and medicated them, so on and so forth. We were there one month, but we were beginning to become overcrowded with animals. 

We then packed up all of our things from the motor home and moved temporarily into a construction trailer at the west end of the street, consuming the entire Humane Society staff parking lot. What fun was in store for us now! 

The baby season was now beginning to hit us, and with a vengeance! Once again, we all worked together and made a very workable environment. Bear in mind that by mid-June we were beginning to outgrow this trailer, too. A little stressed I was, but not yet pulling my hair out and blubbering sentences. I remained positive. Good morale, you know. At least that's what they say.

I would take a few minutes throughout the day and watch the reconstruction of the new facility.

The day finally came when I saw the buildings of the new facility coming down the road. It was like a ray of sunshine had just gone through me. I let out a yell - so some volunteers say - and watched with great enthusiasm, like a little kid watching a parade, as the buildings were put in their ready-made spots. 

Once it was in and stable enough for me to walk into, we got the OK to start moving items in - but not animals. Every day we would move a few more items into the new place. It was hard enough working with what few things we had and now we were losing them to the new place. 

I could sense that some volunteers were becoming frustrated, as we had to walk to the new facility now and wash all dishes, syringes, etc., then bring them back to the trailer. But by keeping the volunteers happy with chocolate, good jokes and conversation, it all worked out well.

Finally, on June 25^th with my Sunday night crew, and another assistant manager, we loaded up the truck with animals and supplies and began our big move! It took about 2-3 hours. WE WERE OFFICIALLY IN NOW!! We finished up with feeding and cleaning of the animals. My volunteers left; I thanked them profusely, and I sat in admiration of our new place.

The next morning I arrived to a very clean, lit up facility. What a great feeling to have light coming in the small windows (we had none in our previous facility). We now have a large incubator room and specialty bird room, a very nice, yet large kitchen area to prepare food for all of our creatures, an air conditioner, a washer and dryer, and a restroom. 

Outdoors, we have a wonderful new porch area. In the back we have a washing area for kennels and cages, and we still have our enclosed aviary area where birds become acclimated to the weather before leaving to go to flight cages with home-care volunteers.

I hope on November 5th - for Wildlife Day - everyone will come and celebrate our new facility and enjoy seeing the animals that we care for. Wildlife Day is the one time each year when you, our donors, can come in and take a look around.

I would like to say a very special "Thank You" to all of the volunteers who stuck with us throughout the transition, and to the teams that pulled together in taking animals on a day or every other day basis, especially the birds, to help combat the overcrowding during this hectic time. 

And a big "THANK YOU" to Nancy Anderson, Gordon Wilson, Ernie Soeterik and Dan Williams for the cabinets and shelves. You all made life a lot easier. Last but not least, if not for Mark and John from Bycor General Contractors, we never would've been able to get this project done!

Debbie Beam, Care Facility Manager

Ways to Give:
Endowment Program
United Way Donations
Flowers for Wildlife
Protectors of Wildlife

Programs:
Education Department and Programs