Hundreds of residents flocked to the Pet and Animal Rescue (PAWR) facility to get the first glimpse at the inside of the new building.
The new animal shelter is located behind the old building on Park Avenue East in Chatham. Construction of the new animal shelter began in June 2018, to replace the previous space built in 1974. After an advocacy group commandeered $800,000 in funding for the shelter, the finishing touches to the building owned by the municipal government were completed in May.
"With the completion and opening of the shelter finalized, staff would like to extend their thanks to all the members of the community who took the time to visit over the weekend," the shelter said in a media release on Monday. "As well as to their hardworking team of volunteers who assisted with the move and the open house, along with the support they provide daily for the standard operations at the shelter."
PAW Rescue said during the open house on Saturday visitors enjoyed lunch, activities, and unassisted tours of the new shelter which included visiting with the dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens.
