The former Kent County SPCA building in Dover is getting new life.
The Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA) is putting the facility back to work after purchasing it with a $500,000 grant from the Petco Foundation.
“We’re converting the old facility on Horsepond Road into a full service shelter for Kent County,” said Linda Torelli, the director of marketing for the BVSPCA.
Work on the 1,800-square-foot building should be done by the end of the year. When finished, it will will be the organization’s third full-service brick and mortar Pet Resource Center in Delaware.
Torelli says the shelter, which closed in 2001, fell into disrepair, but it’s bones were in good shape.
"So we’re building it back up and adding more modern features to it," sais Torelli. "We already have it open for stray dog holding; so folks in Kent County have a local spot to go and stop in for their lost dogs.”
Torelli notes the Pet Resource Center will also offer pet adoptions and low-cost veterinary care, including spay and neuter services.
Torelli says they plan to work through the project in phases.
“So that we can get each part of the campus up and running. So right now, we have the stray dog holding up and running. We’ve got indoor/outdoor kennels open; we’ve got play yards, so quality of life for those dogs is really excellent while they’re there with us," said Torelli. "We’re then going to be fitting out the rest of the adoption areas; we’ve got free-roaming cat rooms that are going to be in place and additional capacity for adoptions.
Torelli says right now Kent County residents have few options for low-cost veterinary services or intake intervention services.
She adds the Pet Resource Center will also offer a pet food pantry.
Torelli says the goal is help families who want to keep their pets get through difficult times.
She adds the group is still seeking donations to help finish the building renovations.
The public can make donations online here.
