GVAWL Animal Shelter & Adoption Center

The new year is off to a great start for GVAWL and the shelter/adoption center project. Gunnison County and GVAWL have entered into a lease agreement on a 2-acre parcel of land in the Gold Basin Industrial Park.

Shelter Committee Update

Currently Gunnison County does not have an animal shelter; consequently, all of the pets in GVAWL care are kenneled or live in foster homes. Committed to providing better care and services, GVAWL continues work with the City of Gunnison and the County to refine use projections, and to ascertain levels of financial participation for both construction and operation.

• The shelter fund stands at just over $150,000.
• Project Phase Plans have been completed.
• Our lease is in place with Gunnison County.
• Stage 1 of the capital campaign is underway.

The new shelter will be located just south of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport on Gold Basin Road (County Road 38). The site is easily accessible to the Valley’s residents and to County and municipal agencies. The close proximity to existing infrastructure will save a significant amount of construction money. There is a three-year deadline for completion of the building, with operations beginning in 2012.

Our goals remain the same. First and foremost, we will provide a humane environment for homeless animals, at maximal cost-effectiveness. Also, we will build and operate with energy efficiency in mind. Beyond that, GVAWL envisions the shelter/adoption center as more than a building – we see it as the integral space necessary for community members to meet companion animals and each other, to explore the human/animal bond that “makes us human.”

History and Background

• The Gunnison Animal Lovers (GAL) was founded in 1986.
• In 2003, the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League (GVAWL) was formed to continue the mission and initiate a county-wide strategic effort to build a permanent shelter.
• This organization has served the Gunnison Valley for over 25 years without any paid staff and without any permanent facilities.
• THANKS to the many Board Members!
• THANKS to the many Volunteers!
• THANKS to the City of Gunnison and Gunnison County!
• THANKS to the Animal Assistance Foundation and other Grantors!
• THANKS to the many individual, family and business donations!
• THANKS to the local veterinarians!

What’s the Need?

• GVAWL has handled and adopted out approximately 2,500 animals.
• The City of Gunnison impounds between 200 and 250 animals annually.
• A professional study conducted by Animal Arts in January 2007 stated:
  • “…close cooperation will be necessary between Gunnison County, the City of Gunnison and GVAWL.”
  • “…lack of an adequate facility precludes the effective enforcement of existing and proposed animal welfare ordinances.”
  • “…animals are being euthanized for lack of shelter space.”
  • “The shelter should seek to become a destination and a community space.”
  • NO facility exists in the county that can legally hold animals for more than 10 days.

Project Update

GVAWL completed fully engineered plans with:

• Jody Reeser (Architect)
• Resource Engineering Group (Structural and Mechanical Engineering)
• Buckhorn Geotech (Civil Engineering)
• GVAWL has a fully executed lease with Gunnison County for Lot 3A in the Gold Basin Industrial Park.

Phasing Shelter Construction

• Early in 2011, the “Gunnison County Animal Task Force” discussed the advantages of a phased approach to constructing an animal shelter.
• Phase 1 of the animal shelter was designed (in part) directly with the City of Gunnison to replace its existing impound facility.
• Phase 1 (to commence Spring 2012 and be completed Fall 2012) is designed to meet essential needs and includes:
  • A fully-operational shelter for both GVAWL and the City of Gunnison with capacity for 6 dogs and 20 cats, isolation areas for both dogs and cats, outdoor dog runs, and a community adoption center.
  • Black Dragon Development, LLC, owned by local resident Crockett Farnell, is the Construction Manager and General Contractor.
  • Phase 1 is scheduled to break ground in Spring 2012.
• Phase 2 design includes:
  • Full-scale veterinarian medical, evaluation, and isolation spaces.
  • Community center with lobby and conference spaces.
  • Adoption meeting rooms, outdoor play area, and private relinquishment room.
  • A fully-operational shelter with capacity for up to 11 dogs with indoor kennels and outdoor runs, and 40 cats with cat play and public display areas.

Project Funding

• GVAWL has raised over $150,000 to date for the Shelter Project, thanks to a generous leading donation by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Family, and other individuals and businesses.
• GVAWL has devoted over $50,000 to the development of this project and interim shelter needs.
• The lease with the County is rent-free for the first 4 years, representing a contribution of approximately $30,000 – $35,000.
• The Gunnison City Council is considering a $125,000 one-time capital request, which was discussed favorably at the October 18, 2011 Council work session.
• The organization has met with the Animal Assistance Foundation, a long-time supporter, and this foundation has indicated their interest in supporting this project with a capital grant.
• Pending final commitments with the City of Gunnison and Gunnison County, as well as a final construction budget analysis, the organization is positioned to raise approximately $200,000 to complete phase 1 construction, which includes significant up-front infrastructure supporting the entire project.
• The success of the 2011 “FUR BALL” and other broad community support will be vital to the project’s funding efforts.

The Animal Shelter & Adoption Center Mission

The Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will be an open admission center. This means that we will take in all companion animals which come to us. We will not turn animals away. We believe that this will best serve the needs of our community at this time.

With this mission, we will take in animals who are sick, in need of medical treatment, and who may have behavioral issues. We will do our best to find homes for all adoptable animals. There will be no time limit set on how long animals stay with us while waiting for their perfect home.

There are other organizations that call themselves “no kill” shelters, but this term is misleading. These organizations are more accurately defined as “limited admission” shelters, because, generally speaking, they have to restrict the number of animals they take in. They may turn away those that aren’t healthy or behaviorally sound. To operate successfully, they have to limit their intake to animals that can be adopted quickly.