Newstrack: Dogs, cats and a couple rabbits

Background

It's been nearly seven years since flooding on the Iowa River forced the staff, volunteers and occupants of Iowa City's former animal shelter to vacate its Kirkwood Avenue building and eventually relocate to a temporary site on Sand Road. After years of planning and fundraising, ground broke last summer on the Animal Care and Adoption Center.

What's happened since

For the workers and furry residents of Iowa City's Animal Care and Adoption Center, getting a new shelter has been a long time coming.

With construction underway on the new 3910 Napoleon Lane animal shelter, all parties involved are ready to move in by the end of July.

'Along the road of this long journey there have been times where all of us I think have felt, ‘Is it ever going to happen? When is it going to come?'” said Liz Ford, shelter supervisor. 'It's been frustrating at times, but now it's almost upon us and it's really exciting.”

The 11,370-square-foot center will serve Iowa City, Johnson County, Coralville, University Heights and the University of Iowa - municipalities that opted to help fund the shelter. Communities like North Liberty, Solon and Tiffin decided not to help fund the shelter's construction, and therefore will not use the facility.

Kumi Morris, Iowa City architectural services coordinator, said the project hit a few delays during the winter months, but has managed to stay on schedule.

'It's starting to actually look like a building at this point,” she said. 'It's progressing nicely.”

The project was bid at $2.8 million for construction, with $1.4 million of the total project cost covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency dollars and state funds.

The new building boasts more space, a sustainable design and updated facilities for both people and animals.

Ford noted that some of the biggest upgrades included in the new facility are not the most easily seen or recognized, such as the infrastructure, plumbing or the geothermal heating system.

'A lot of the time people don't see those things because they don't work or volunteer at the shelter, but they're very, very important,” Ford said.

With a move to the new shelter rapidly approaching, Ford said staff and volunteers are beginning to prepare.

The animals - 15 dogs, roughly 75 cats and two rabbits - also will be moved when the new shelter is ready.

With spring often dubbed 'kitten season” due to the high volume of felines that find their way to the shelter, Ford said finding permanent or foster homes for animals not only will help lessen the burden on the shelter, but it will reduce the number of animals that need to be moved to the new facility.