Construction will start on a new animal shelter in Chatham this week.
The official ground-breaking ceremony for Chatham-Kent’s new animal shelter will take place this Friday at 10:30am at 405 Park Ave. E in Chatham.
"We're just doing the official groundbreaking on Friday morning and that will get the shovels going and get that construction started so we can put our furry friends in a better home," says Friends of the New Animal Shelter Committee Co-Chair Marjorie Crew.
She says the new shelter will likely be up and running early next year.
"We hope that it will be closed in by late fall for sure so that the construction isn't exposed to the elements," says Crew. "Barring any problems, I would hope that it's ready by late winter/early spring."
Crew says the new shelter will be built on the same lot as the current shelter.
"Construction will continue with the existing shelter in place and that part where the shelter is now will be the driveway or parking lot," she says.
Last month, council approved over $800,000 of extra funding for the shelter.