The Humane Society of Northern Kentucky welcomed supporters, donors and local officials for a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Pendleton County’s new animal shelter, marking a major milestone in a project more than 15 years in the making.
“This has been a dream for us for a very, very long time,” Belinda Perry told those attending the ceremony. “It’s been a labor of love, and thankfully, none of us ever gave up. It’s because of all the lovely people like you who continued to contribute, believe in us and support us.”
Perry, alongside Janet Scanlon, Jeff Gowen and Michele Hamilton spearheaded the project, raising more than $500,000 in donations, guided it from an ambitious idea to a completed state-of-the-art facility which is set to open to the public in the next few weeks.
Scanlon, who spoke to the crowd of nearly 50 people, publicly thanked Jeff Gowen for his important role of overseeing the construction of the facility.
“I was actually listed on the paperwork as the general contractor, but really, Jeff Gowen is the one who handled the day-to-day operations, took all the phone calls and took care of everything for us,” Scanlon noted.
Pendleton County Fiscal Court, under the leadership of Judge/Executive David Fields, and the current magistrates, Alan Whaley, Josh Plummer, Darren Gregg and Rick Mineer, contributed $300,000 toward the cost of the project.
“It’s turned out really beautiful, and I think it’s going to serve Pendleton County’s citizens and their pets for a very long time,” Fields said. “I want to thank all the donors who gave toward the project, as well as the Fiscal Court members for their support. It could not have been done without them.”
The new shelter includes 22 dog kennels, each with its own individual run; a two-bay quarantine room; a dedicated whelping and puppy room; and a grooming room. Outside, the facility offers 13 additional dog runs and two large fenced areas where dogs can exercise and spend time outdoors. This new facility is also equipped to manage an ongoing spay/neuter clinic for Pendleton County citizens.
A significant addition to the new animal shelter is the state-of-the-art air handling system which is designed to help maintain a healthier environment for the animals, reduce the spread of airborne diseases and regulate the air temperature.
The new shelter is not yet open to the public. Additional information regarding and operations will be announced later.
Humane Society of Northern Kentucky