Pet project success: Corner Brook SPCA to get new home

The SPCA and the Corner Brook city council have worked out an arrangement to move the animal shelter into a new suitable home, where it will care for shelter animals and any cityimpounded pets.

"I think as a board we feel really really good about it. All of our hours of volunteering and meetings and trying to get a new shelter seems to be closer," said Frances Drover, President of the NL WestSPCA.

• Uphill battle as cramped SPCA in Corner Brook searches for new space

The building currently used by the SPCAis owned by the city, but it's 70 years oldand has major sewer and electrical issues. The city plans on tearing it down.

The city pound is also old and run down. The city plans on closing that building and moving impound services to the care of the volunteers with the SPCA.

The animal shelter volunteers have struggled for years to find a suitable building. In 2011 the SPCA purchased a property on the North Shore Highway but it needs major work to bring it up tocode.

In a compromise worked out with the city, councilwill now rent that building from the SPCAfor $1,000 a monthand use it to store equipment.

With rent money, and revenue from taking on the city's impounded animal service, the SPCAvolunteers will have about $28,000 a year to go towards a new building.

Wins all around, says mayor

Theagreement will continue for five years or until the SPCAsells its north shore building.

"Its a win win win. It helps them out of a jam with dealing with the building that they have on the north shore. It helps us get storage issues resolved for the short term and at the same time we get to take care of these animals," said Corner Brook Mayor Charles Pender.

"Knowing we have someone available to house the animals, to look after them and make sure they receive proper medical care if required, that they are fed and kept warm and given a good home is important obviously and it really helps us do our work," said Pender.

It will take 12 to 18 months until the SPCA moves into a new home. The City and volunteers with the animal shelter are currently looking for theideal location.