Sussex County will have a no-kill animal shelter by the end of next year.

The new Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary of Sussex County will be open for 400 dogs and cats by December 2010, according to Director Anne Gryczon. A $234,000 federal stimulus grant pushed the shelter’s fund drive forward.

Bids are out and construction of the environmentally friendly shelter is expected to begin this winter, Gryczon told members of Sussex County Council at the Tuesday, Sept. 29 meeting. The shelter will be located on 14 acres on Shingle Point Road between Georgetown and Milton.

Gryczon asked council to consider Safe Haven for the county’s animal control contract starting in 2011.

County officials, because of a change in state law, are responsible for dog control starting in January 2010. It’s assumed that Kent County SPCA, the agency that currently provides dog control to the county under the state contract, would be awarded the contract. Gryczon asked council to limit any new contract to one year.

Gryczon urged county council to contract with a facility that would have all employees located within Sussex County during the day. She said local businesses would also benefit from purchases of supplies and services by Safe Haven.

“Under Safe Haven, all direct and supportive dog control services would be centralized in Sussex, not outside the county,” she said. “We will be able to provide effective, efficient dog control and care for animals in our brand-new, no-kill sanctuary by January 2011.”

In a recent board of directors’ update, Hal Dukes, chairman, said one-third of the $3.5 million construction goal for the facility has been raised or pledged. That’s in addition to the $1 million generated in prior years for site work.

He said once construction begins, a capital campaign would be launched to secure the balance of funding for construction and start-up costs.

from Cape Gazette Archives