Work on animal shelter finally underway

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About 40 people gathered at a snow-covered site on Lake Ridge Road on Tuesday afternoon for the official "sod turning" ceremony to mark the start of construction on the new Uxbridge and Scugog Animal Shelter.

Councillor Willie Popp takes a moment with Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton’s family pup before the official ground breaking of the new animal shelter for Uxbridge-Scugog. Photo by Lisha Van Nieuwenhove

Using "golden" shovels, members of Uxbridge and Scugog council instead dug their tools into the packed snow. As the ceremony went ahead, construction workers continued their work on the footings and foundation of the building and the first insulated concrete forms that will be used to construct the walls were being put in place.

In his remarks, Mayor Dave Barton recognized the contributions of Ginger Jackson to the project, telling Jackson: "This is your vision." Jackson replied that she was "thrilled, unbelievably happy."

Jackson was the one who first proposed a new animal shelter to Uxbridge council in November, 2010. She became leader of NASUS, or the New Animal Shelter of Uxbridge-Scugog, a fundraising organization that raised $700,000 for the project with a variety of fundraising events, including galas and dog walks.

Barton also praised township staff for finding "creative ways to get things done."

At council on Monday, clerk Debbie Leroux presented a report setting out the pricing of the project. She said the cost of the new 600-square-metre shelter will be $3.3 million. It will feature a reception and waiting room area, segregated dog kennels and cat areas, outdoor exercise yards, quarantine and isolation rooms and a public visitation and adoption room.

She noted that in March, council approved a budget of $3.8 million for the project. Council also approved a trade-by-trade approach to procurement. Each trade (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, framing, roofing, etc.) will be contracted and managed directly by the township. The new shelter is designed to last at least 30 years.

Leroux' report said construction will continue throughout the winter, with construction expected to be finished in mid-October 2026, with occupancy taking place before December 31, 2026. The report added that a contingency of $500,000 is needed to address material and supply chain cost overruns and that the New Animal Shelter Steering Committee should develop a fundraising plan to raise that amount. One fundraising idea that will be considered is selling naming rights to the various rooms in the shelter.