Post Falls strays are getting a treat
Quick question: Where’s the Post Falls Animal Shelter?
Chances are, you don’t know.
That’s partly why the police department, whose animal safety division runs the shelter, has moved the facility to a higher profile location. As of Tuesday, the shelter is located next to the Mazda dealership and across from Flexcel.
Another reason for the move is space. The previous shelter, located on Third Avenue and built in the mid-1970s, contained 16 kennels.
“We’ve outgrown it, and it no longer meets our needs,” said Lt. Scot Haug.
The new one has 40 inside kennels and eight outside, where more aggressive dogs can be kept while indoor units are being cleaned.
The shelter takes stray dogs and owned dogs that have gotten loose. It is not a humane society, Haug noted. If the dogs aren’t adopted or picked up by their owners after about a week, they are transferred to groups such as the Humane Society, River City Pet Rescue and Second Chance Pet Rescue.
About 40-50 animals go through the shelter every month, and 15-25 are there on a daily basis, said Robin Hutchins of the animal safety division.
The price tag on the new building – including the land, and paving the driveway and parking lot – is $155,000. Most of it came out of the city’s general fund, Haug said, though the county contributed some money because its animal control division drops off animals there, too.
City officials hope the newer and cleaner facility will encourage more visits from the public.
The building is insulated and has a climate-controlled ventilation system. The kennels are larger, contain water spigots and have a better drainage system, Hutchins said. They’re also separated by masonry block, which will better prevent the spread of disease. Kennels at the previous location were separated by chain-link fences that allowed sick dogs to touch noses with their healthy neighbors, Haug said.
These improvements will allow the animal safety division to take better care of the animals, Haug added. “It’s important that we find a home for them, and this will enhance our ability to do that.”