If it is true that a dog is a man’s best friend, then the construction of a new animal shelter is just the home needed to house such a family. In 2011, Rolla Animal Shelter housed 846 canines and 449 felines with the adoption rate at less than fifty percent. Now, in 2013, with an adoption rate of 90 percent, multiple agencies are working together to find more good homes and avoid euthanasia.
The city of Rolla, which operates an animal shelter located at 1915 Sharp Road, off 18th Street, is considered by animal shelter workers to be incredibly inadequate. Phelps County Humane Society, Phelps County Animal Welfare League (PCAWL), City of Rolla and Phelps County Commission have all engaged in a series of meetings for the past two months to determine the needs pet owners in Phelps County. As an example of the immediate need for a larger, more modern animal shelter, the police receive calls during floods regarding large animals in rural areas that are abandoned such as cows, horses and goats and the Rolla Animal Shelter cannot adequately house and properly care for such large animals.
In 2011, at the direction of Rolla City Administration, Missouri S&T architectural engineering students designed a futuristic schematic of an animal shelter that will provide a blueprint for a more expansive and modern facility to meet the ever growing needs of the Rolla area. The estimated budget to construct a new fully equipped facility is projected to be between $1.5 million and $2.5 million dollars. The facility would include enough kennels for 50 dogs and over 25 cats, as well as an in house veterinarian, who would administer vaccines and possibly offer spay and neuter services; services would also include microchipping. A very generous donation of $4,410 has been made by Bob Eck to the city that has generated significant interest in this project.
Fortunately, a big piece of the project is already taken care of with a sizable piece of land owned by the City of Rolla at the Public Works Services Park on Old St. James Road, and behind the recycling center. It will be located in the former compost sight.
For this project to come to life, it has to be approved by the Rolla City Council and any other governmental agencies or organizations who might partner in this venture.
In addition to the donation by Eck that is driving the momentum of this project, the impending sale of the nine acre Sharp Road parcel ($1.4 million), will dramatically increase the speed at which this project will proceed. The City of Rolla has set up an interest account with Eck’s donation open for the general public to offer monetary donations. Donations can be made either at the finance department located at the second floor of Rolla City Hall, or checks can be made out to the City of Rolla and mailed to Stephanie Rodgers, City of Rolla, Finance Director, 901 North Elm Street.
Besides the benefits to animals and pet lovers associated with this project, the community will receive many public safety benefits in the enhancement of animal care and treatment at the new facility. The expansion of the shelter would allow more animals to be taken in, lowering the number of strays, which for the cat population is an epidemic.
Since this project is still in early planning stages there will be several more strategic planning sessions and collaborative efforts including the opportunity for public input and feedback.
