A3

By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

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Lost, abandoned and abused animals in Oromocto and its surrounding areas will soon have a new home.

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The Daily Gleaner/Michael Staples photo

IT’S COMING TOGETHER: Greg Doucet, project manager for the new Oromocto and Area SPCA building at 111 D’Amours St., says the target date for completion of the project is Nov. 1. The new home for strays and abused animals is being constructed with the help of personnel from the 4 Engineer Support Regiment at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.

In a little more than a month, they will have the protection of a new, state-of-the-art shelter.

Work on the $200,000 project for the Oromocto and Area SPCA is continuing at 111 D'Amours St.

The 16.8-metre-by-nine-metre (56-foot-by-30-foot) building will be about twice the size of the current SPCA in Oromocto.

The structure is being fitted with special insulation and a radiant heat flooring system, all of which was donated. The new heating system is expected to keep associated costs below $1,000 per year.

The facility is being constructed by personnel from the 4 Engineer Support Regiment at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, as part of a practical work assignment for its tradespeople.

"They are a great bunch of people who are willing to help in any way and have done a tremendous job," project manager Greg Doucet said recently.

"They are very conscious of what they do and are well-trained."

The military has declined to comment on the project.

Doucet, a former town councillor, said the target date for opening is Nov. 1.

"We have a challenge right now," Doucet said. "We are running off generators (and) we need electricity to come to the back, and also the water and sewer to come to the front area. We are still waiting for that to happen ... (and) we need those utilities to operate."

The town sold the land to the SPCA for $1 and agreed to provide electrical services to the property line and water and sewer.

Fred Hackett, the technical and planning/development officer as well as the chief building inspector for the town, said NB Power is scheduled to begin electrical work at the location in October.

A tender for the sanitary and water work will also be released by the town in October.

"We definitely want them in (the building) before it gets cold," Hackett said.

Susan Sears, vice-president of the SPCA's board of directors, said the organization is excited to see the building take shape and that staff, animals and volunteers will soon be in the new facility.

She said the project exists due to the generosity of others.

"Many businesses have come forward to offer help," Sears said.

Aside from 4ESR, ThermaRay has donated the radiant heat flooring system and Home Depot gave the organization a break on material costs, as did Home Hardware in Oromocto.

Wilde Custom Homes designed the building and helped with the concrete and insulated concrete forms, while Sunbury Towing rented out some equipment at a discount.

While the capital fundraising campaign for the building hopes to raise $300,000, Sears said, the process has been slow.

"But we are hoping that now that the building is actually there now, that people will realize that all of our promises are becoming a reality and will consider giving so we can finish the project on time."

Once completed, the new shelter will have dog and cat areas, a reception area and room for storage.

There will also be a place for staff meetings, a kitchenette and a laundry facility.

At some point, the back area will be fenced, which will allow the animals to exercise.