The Need for a New Facility
In addition to the on-going need for program support and basic supplies for the homeless animals, funding is also needed for a new facility to serve the rapidly growing community. The current Animal Haven facility is showing its age. Staff and animals routinely encounter challenges. Inside animal areas are small. The entire building has just one ventilation system. Air is exchanged between healthy and sick animals. The layout of the building makes preventing cross contamination very difficult.
As a temporary solution to managing overcrowding in our shelter, Animal Haven opened the Lost Pet Center in a nearby warehouse for additional holding space. This warehouse has been renovated to act as an intake center where lost pets are brought in and animals are reclaimed. While renovating and expanding the current facility was considered, it was determined that the 40 year old facility is so aged and worn that it would in fact be cheaper to either build or find a new location.
In December 2008, Animal Haven was offered and a free long term lease on the new home in Lenexa near the I-35 and I-435 interchange. This $2.5 million dollar building is the cornerstone of our new state of the art facility. The new building will have 30,000 many square feet with a projected opening in December of 2010.
We anticipate needing $6 million to support the new building and necessary renovations. The new design approach addresses three key initiatives; (1) to allow us to work with twice as many animals, (2) in a healthier living environment, (3) in larger living spaces. Additionally, we will have necessary space for administration, volunteers and an area to create a community resource center. Our goal is to develop the physical space of Animal Haven to effectively manage the following programs essential to support our No-Kill philosophy:
• Comprehensive Adoption Program
• Volunteer Program
• Pet Retention Program
• Foster Network
• Humane Education and Public Relations
• Medical and Behavioral Rehabilitation Program
• Rescue Group Network
• Progressive Multi-media Pet Redemption Program
This new building will also have indoor/outdoor runs for dogs, habitat rooms for socialization, colony rooms for cats, puppy rooms, isolation and quarantine spaces, a multi-purpose training room, and a community meeting room. With a projected 2010 build date,
