Groundbreaking set Saturday for no-kill shelter

After 10 years of planning, the Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation is ready to break ground on their new county-wide no-kill shelter this weekend.

Foundation representative Doloris Sonntag said the ceremonial event is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the construction site, located at 721 240th St.

Sonntag said the foundation had been searching for property to build the shelter on for about 10 years before purchasing the 20 acres on 240th Street in October. She said the contractor they selected had to finish a couple of other projects before getting started on the shelter.

The cost of the building alone is estimated at about $200,000. Sonntag said that figure does not include any of the furniture or materials needed, such as food and water bowls and blankets. She added part of the expense will be the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling unit and two septic tanks.

The shelter will include 14-20 heated indoor and outdoor runs which will accommodate up to four adult animals each. Sonntag said there will be an area specifically for puppies and another area specifically for mothered kittens. The shelter will also house a surgical room for spaying and neutering of animals and a separate wash room.

"A majority of the building will be dedicated to the animals ... not a lot of people places," Sonntag said.

The shelter will include an office and a staff/conference room. Sonntag said the facility will be operated by volunteers and possibly one paid employee.

Sonntag said the foundation is excited about building the shelter, however, they know based on the demand from surrounding communities, they will quickly outgrow it. Sonntag said they purchased the 20 acres and are installing a second septic tank in hopes they can expand their facility in the future.

"This is all with the idea that we will be able to expand in the future," she said. "Once our building is established, we'll wish we had more space."

Along with the new shelter, Sonntag said the foundation is hoping to get Bourbon County residents to be more responsible pet owners. Too often, she said, people will dump unwanted pets out in the country on nearby farms.

"This will not just be a drop off. People will need bring any pet that they do not want or cannot afford to keep," she said.

Completion of the shelter is expected in mid-to-late fall, or possibly by the end of the year if the weather does not cooperate.

To get to the site of the shelter, turn east on Grand Road, two miles south of Walmart, then north on 240th Street. The shelter will be located about one-eighth of a mile down the road. The roads will be marked and it is suggested that attendees wear sturdy shoes as some of the ground may be rough.