Dogs at the Flin Flon, Creighton and Area SPCA animal shelter are getting their own playground.
Construction is slated to begin next month on a fenced-in park to give the canines more time outdoors.
“It’s going to be a huge difference for the shelter dogs,” says Carmen Ward, shelter manager. “They’ve just been going for short walks during the day and they’ll be able to go out in intervals to go out and play and hang out in the yard. It’s much needed, so everyone’s really excited.”
Attached to the shelter, the park will encompass approximately 1,500 square feet of space surrounded by chain-link fence. It will include climbing structures and other equipment.
Construction is expected to begin between mid and late May and wrap up by the end of May.
The park has been on the SPCA’s wish list ever since the shelter opened in 2012.
Financially the shelter is staying above water, though Ward says continual fundraising is needed to keep the doors open.
The doors were certainly open last Saturday afternoon, April 25, as the shelter held an open house in hopes of finding homes for the furry tenants.
Two dogs and one cat that had been in foster or trial care were officially adopted. Six dogs and four cats are still looking for homes.
While permanent homes are the ideal, Ward notes that the shelter utilizes foster homes to give the animals a well-deserved break from kennel life.
Through the shelter’s Weekend Buddies program, residents may take an animal overnight or even for an hour or two. And despite the name, the program operates every day of the week, not just on weekends.
Looking ahead, shelter staff hope to eventually add an isolation room along with an outdoor area for cats.
“That’s just kind of our dream goal right now,” says Ward, who has no completion date in mind.
The shelter will host a grand opening for the dog park at an undetermined date.
After that will be a second-hand item sale at the Anglican Parish of St. Peter and St. James on Saturday, June 6. Call 204-687-8744 for information on donating items.
Ward also has plans for a combination car and dog wash in July and is in talks about a beer and burger night with live entertainment in September.
