Animal shelter’s possible locations identified

    The town and humane society have identified three locations for a permanent kennel and housing facility for the animal care group.     At Monday night’s council meeting, Director of Community Services Paul Salvatore unveiled the locations: the Hygrade industrial park in Drumheller, the Rosedale industrial park, and land near the water treatment plant.
    The Drumheller and District Humane Society has prepared a plan for the building, with a construction cost said to be around $315,000, although the price could change.
    The society will be applying for a $125,000 grant through the Community Facility Enhancement Program, with the property value of the site added to the grant total. The grant has an application deadline of June 1, but council said the application will be reviewed within 30 days.
    Council voiced support for the project.
    “We’re just looking to get something up so we can help the town and help all of us,” said humane society president Bill Davidson, who said the society is straining foster homes and needs a permanent place to shelter them.
    Davidson said the Hygrade park location would be ideal, but council was concerned of its 120 metre proximity to residential buildings. Davidson said the facility would be soundproofed.
    He said the current design of the facility is similar to the humane society shelter in Hinton, but the town will assist in tweaking the design.
    “It’s costing the town a lot of money to house animals, they have to take it up the hill for $35 a day,” he said. “We saved the town just about $6,500 this year, from having them neutered and spayed with money we raised.”
    “We’re going to continue doing that stuff.”
    Davidson said the support the humane society has received from the town has been welcome.