New Animal Control Facility Due For Summer Opening

By Kendra Bobowick

Construction is “moving pretty well” at the new animal control facility, said Public Works Director Fred Hurley. Trucks delivering supplies and the sounds of saws added to the bustle onsite Tuesday, March 6.

“We could probably have a ribbon cutting later this spring, but I don’t see it opening until summer,” he said. Regarding the new building underway near the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard off of Old Farm Road Extension, he said, “I want to emphasize that we’ve got to get this right.” Working alongside construction manager Baybutt Construction, the town crews are completing site work.

He said that by April, “I think we’ll have the structure in really good shape,” but not 100 percent finished. “Everything, all the buttons, whistles, etc, may be later than that.”

Kennel mechanisms have already been ordered. Once that equipment arrives and is set in place, Mr Hurley said, “Then we have to be sure it’s right, and safe for the dogs.” He anticipates “a lot of fine tuning to be sure it’s absolutely the way it should be.”

Although the work is moving a little more slowly than First Selectman Pat Llodra had originally hoped, she said, “We still have a lot of work to go.”

The animal control staff and animals are still using the small kennel rooms and office located behind the Newtown transfer station.

“We won’t move staff until early summer, and we have to make sure [the new animal control facility] is running right before we move the dogs in,” Mr Hurley said. “We’ve got to make sure we do this right rather than quickly.”

He said, “The actual move itself won’t take that long,” regarding relocating the animals, materials, files, etc.

Canine Advocates of Newtown, (CAN) President Virginia Jess is “very excited” to see the new building in progress. Her nonprofit organization that started 13 years ago “to make things better for the dogs” began a new building fundraising campaign seven years ago.

She “can’t wait” to see the animals relocated to a cleaner, more spacious and accommodating facility.

Background

Last year officials chose to name the pound after the late Brian J. Silverlieb, DVM. According to Ms Jess, a longtime friend and associate, “Dr Silverlieb may have done more to make Newtown nicer for animals than anybody. And there may have been no one more passionate about improving the conditions under which the town’s cast-off and abandoned pets were forced to live after being impounded.”

The new facility was designed by Jacunski Humes Architects of Berlin. The entire project is estimated to cost $1 million, with a $750,000 contribution from the town, and roughly $237,000 from CAN fundraising, plus private donations.