Saturday was a day the all-volunteer People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has been looking forward to for years. Finally, they were able to vacate the delipidated animal shelter near the Jefferson wastewater treatment plant and move into a new shelter on Doreen Wilber Drive in northwest Jefferson.
About a dozen volunteers helped move items from the old shelter. Timing for the move was lucky, as the cat census was down to a mother cat with kittens and four other cats, and only two dogs are currently sheltered.
The volunteers included Greene County High School seniors Caleb Most and Katrina Heupel. They’re in the accelerated government class, which includes a student-led service project. Students are volunteering and raising funds for PAWS this trimester.
The 3,000 square-foot shelter has seven dog kennels, with two more for quarantined dogs. There are also two short-stay kennels in which officers or deputies can place dogs they take to the shelter. Each kennel has its own run for outdoor time when the weather is moderate.
The shelter can accommodate up to 33 cats, with cages in one room and a large, sunny playroom. There are four short-stay cages for cats just brought to the shelter.
The city of Jefferson owns the new Greene County Animal Shelter. The city council is in the process of establishing the organizational framework in which PAWS will play an important role. The shelter will be available to cats and dogs from all over the county through a 28E agreement between the city and Greene County. The county expects to pay up to $15,000 annually toward operating costs of the shelter.
Fundraising for the new shelter started in 2017, spearheaded by volunteer Don Orris.
Cost of the new building is $894,000, with another $205,000 for equipment and furnishings. The city of Jefferson allocated $400,000 toward the construction cost because the space where the former shelter is located is needed for the upcoming wastewater treatment plant upgrade. The need to raze the old shelter sooner rather than later prompted the city council to step forward with the funds so construction could begin.
An open house will be held once the move-in is complete and after high school art students put on some finishing touches.
To get to the animal shelter from Highway 30, turn south on Doreen Wilber Drive, between AAI/Spalding and Syngenta. To get to the animal shelter from N. Elm St (Highway 4), turn west on American Ave, just north of Jefferson Family Dentistry.
The Jefferson Rotary Centennial Dog Park adjacent to the new shelter will be built this spring.
