‘Almost home:’ Regina Humane Society discusses progress of new facility

The Regina Humane Society’s new facility is nearing completion at its Harbour Landing location.

The Animal Community Centre will be double the size of the organization’s current location on Armour Road.

“We are excited that things are moving forward,” Lisa Koch, the humane society’s executive director, said Monday.

Koch said while construction of the facility is ramping up, the organization is still short on funding.

“We are about $2 million away from being almost home to be able to complete the construction of the new Animal Community Centre,” she said.

Koch added the new facility will reflect the words “animal community centre.”

“It reflects the design (and) it reflects the evolution in animal care facility design so these are spaces that are stress-free for the animals as well as for the people that visit,” she said.

According to Koch, the spaces in the facility are designed to be open so the animals can exercise and socialize.

While the humane society waits for the new facility to be ready, Koch said it was a difficult year for the humane society.

“We had close to 300 more animals then we’ve had in any previous year and we’ve seen a significant increase in dogs and cats,” she said.

Koch explained the humane society did end the year on a positive note, with 206 animals being adopted through its Home for the Holidays campaign.

“Right now we are close to capacity. We have about 150 animals in our care, so we continue to need the support of the public,” she said.

Koch added that to raise the remaining $2 million, the humane society is reaching out to the community to donate. That can be done on its website.

The humane society has been working for the last 11 years to get funding for the project. As of Monday afternoon, more than $25 million has been raised.

Construction on the facility began in May and is expected to be completed by mid-summer.