Tour around new animal centre

Quinte News took a tour of the new Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward Animal Care and Community Education Centre ahead of its grand opening next Tuesday.

The new facility, located on 34 Wallbridge-Loyalist Rd. in Belleville, is a 16,200 ft2 building that houses dogs, cats and other small animals.

Among the new features of the facility include different meet and greet rooms for prospective adoptions, in-kennel access to the outdoors for dogs and an outdoor cat enrichment area.

There are also different colour palettes that the Humane Society is calling “fear free colour palettes”. This is to allow animals to feel calmer in their rooms with a colour they associate with.

“It’s like night and day.” Executive Director for Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward, Marilyn Lawrie, says when asked about the difference between the new and old facility.

“If (people) have been at the old facility, it was never meant to be a humane society shelter. It was a former bull breeding facility that we had so outgrown that’s for sure.”

The new space allows for 48 cats and 24 dogs.

It was noted that currently, the Humane Society was dealing with an at or above capacity level of cats.

The total cost for the new facility is $6 million. The Humane Society has so far raised $4.6 million.

Part of the funding came from two separate $1 million loan guarantees from the City of Belleville and the City of Quinte West in order for construction to begin on the new facility.

The rest of the money is being raised through fundraising efforts.

While some parts of the building are already open, a full opening will take place on October 4.