City of Bloomington Animal Shelter Schedules Groundbreaking For Tuesday, April 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 17, 2017

For more information, please contact:

Mary Catherine Carmichael, Communications Director, carmichm@bloomington.in.gov, 812-219-2679

City of Bloomington Animal Shelter Schedules Groundbreaking For Tuesday, April 18

Bloomington, Ind. - Mayor John Hamilton, members of the Board of Public Works, Bloomington Animal Shelter staff and volunteers, and representatives from the Monroe County Humane Association will pick up shovels and break ground on the $2 million renovation and construction of the Bloomington Animal Shelter located at 3410 South Walnut Street at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. The public is invited to attend the ceremonial beginning of this exciting project.

The project will entail an approximately 6,000 square foot addition that will include new and improved housing areas for strays, as well as space for proper supportive functions. The existing shelter space will be renovated to provide increased visitation areas for adoptable animals, a small animal room for rabbits, and dedicated space for shelter volunteers. In addition, space will be expanded for the training and outreach needs of the City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control team and the Monroe County Humane Association.

Mayor Hamilton commented, "This renovation and expansion is sorely needed, and will allow staff and volunteers from both the shelter and the Humane Association to better care for the animals temporarily housed at the shelter and find them forever homes more quickly."

The project is funded through a bond project passed by the Bloomington City Council in 2015.

The original shelter, built in 1968 and renovated in 1977, has been determined to be in dire need of improvement. The age and condition of the space has lead to health and welfare issues for the animals in shelter care as well as for staff and volunteers.

Animals can be visited at the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter, 3410 S. Walnut, on Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 7:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Adoptable animals can be seen on the Shelter website at bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter and on the Shelter's facebook page at www.facebook.com/COBAnimalShelter.

For more information, please contact the Animal Shelter at 812-349-3492.

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