It’s kitten season and the Humane Society of Sedona is now capable of taking in more of the little balls of fur found abandoned all over Sedona.
The society recently moved into its new building — attached to the old — where more room allows for the shelter to take in more animals.
The shelter houses a consistent cat population of around 110 cats and kittens, according to shelter manager Gary DeGeronimo. The animals are named after the parking lots they’re found in.
By Trista Steers
Larson Newspapers
It’s kitten season and the Humane Society of Sedona is now capable of taking in more of the little balls of fur found abandoned all over Sedona.
The society recently moved into its new building — attached to the old — where more room allows for the shelter to take in more animals.
The shelter houses a consistent cat population of around 110 cats and kittens, according to shelter manager Gary DeGeronimo. The animals are named after the parking lots they’re found in.
The kitties, rescued from the wild, live in solitary glass cages or among other cats, if their temperament allows, and enjoy basking in the sun in an enclosed outdoor area.
“We decided that when we built this, we didn’t want to skimp because we only wanted to do it once,” “B” Skielvig, shelter executive director, said.
The society raised close to $2 million for the project and is still looking for another $1 million to pay off the mortgage on the building.
“You can have the Humane Society named after you for just a million,” Skielvig joked.
The shelter spent two years raising approximately 50 percent of the money needed before breaking ground last fall.
Skielvig said they knew they would probably have to get a mortgage on the building beforehand, and the rising cost of building materials added to the expense.
“Everything went up since the day we broke ground — by 16 percent,” Skielvig said. Bids collected prior to construction also increased, due in part to inflation in block and steel costs.
Regardless of challenges faced, three years after the society’s campaign began, it’s now settling into its new home.
“We’re still kind of working on doing the detailing,” DeGeronimo said. Floors remain to be finished, signs hung and the veterinarian center is still vacant, but shelter staff is quickly working to have all facets in place.
High on the priority list is getting a veterinarian into the shelter’s new surgery center.
“It’s a tough situation without a vet,” DeGeronimo said. Shelter staff members transport animals to a veterinarian in the Village of Oak Creek for spaying or neutering, or if they need any other medical attention.
According to Skielvig, the society plans to contract with a local veterinarian to initially provide care only for animals living in the shelter. In the future, the shelter hopes to open a low-cost spay and neuter clinic.
The surgery center in the new shelter is complete with surgery prep, operating and recovery rooms.
Other new features include indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs, automatic water systems, soft music played 24 hours a day, heated floors, industrial laundry machines, anti-micro bacterial turf designed specifically for dogs and education center, interview rooms, isolation wing and eventually a retail store.
Trista Steers can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 124, or e-mail tsteers@larsonnewspapers.com
