Oakland County to Get New Animal Shelter

Oakland County to Get New Animal Shelter
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 25, 2015)
Cats and dogs in the care of Oakland County Animal Control could be in a brand new, modern facility by 2017 if plans remain on schedule for constructing a new animal shelter facility. Oakland County Commissioners voted Thursday to use bond funding for the $15,450,000 project that will construct a brand new shelter on the Oakland County Campus in Pontiac.
The new shelter will be built next to the Sheriff’s Headquarters and will house up to 140 cats and 150 dogs in 30,500 square feet. Unlike the current facility, the new shelter will have distinct areas for cat and dogs, a laundry facility, and air conditioning.  Plus it will be centrally located near the jail, courthouse, health department, and other county services.
Currently animal control operates out of a 40 year old building on Brown Road in Auburn Hills. The shelter made news in 2013 when sweltering conditions prompted the owner of the Detroit Bus Company to haul in temporary air conditioning for the animals.  Animal rights activists also have pushed for improvements over the past few years, including reducing the number of euthanized animals, improved reporting of shelter statistics, and improved efforts to return found animals and advertise animals that need homes.
The project is expected to break ground in the spring and be completed in about ten months. The $15.5 million is expected to cover the construction, furnishings and equipment.
The bonding for the project was introduced by Commissioner Philip Weipert on Thursday after having been approved by the Finance Committee and Building and Finance Committee.
Commissioner Dave Woodward put forth an amendment to include an assessment of the plans for energy efficiency and consideration of reaching for LEED Certification. “LEED certification provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings. LEED is the triple bottom line in action, benefiting people, planet and profit,” states Leed.com.
“For us not to get that info does a disservice to the taxpayers of this county,” Woodward said. “At the airport terminal we heralded from the rooftops the success of the energy cost savings and what we were able to receive as a result of going to the LEED Gold standard.”
The proposed amendment failed along party lines. Commissioner Tom Middleton said “I think the assumption is that when they looked at a plan for the new Animal Control that energy savings wasn’t included at all. That assumption is wrong. We used a government rating system, Energy Star Rating.”  According to the Energy Star website “ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.”
Commissioner Shelley Taub said “The plans have yet to be drawn for this project. The architects are very aware of the need to conserve energy. We’re very cognizant of LEED. If you remember our airport received a million dollar grant to do such work. We don’t have a grant for the animal shelter that I know of. I am certain that as the architects proceed they will do everything they can do within their possible ability to save what they can, make it as energy efficient as possible.”
The new building is expected to be at least 25% more energy efficient because of improvements to building construction made since the Auburn Hills building was made over 40 years ago. Sale of the old property will also benefit the County’s bottom line.
Bob Gatt, Director of the Oakland County’s Animal Control Program said “Everyone at the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center is elated over the prospect of having a brand new shelter built.  The biggest beneficiary of a new facility will be the 5000+ animals that we attend to each year.  They will finally be housed in a state of the art building that will lend to better care and better health for each of them.  Our thanks and gratitude goes out to our venerable County Executive Brooks Patterson, whose vision it was to erect a new facility.  Also, to the Board of Commissioners who embraced Mr. Patterson’s idea and approved the necessary budget amendments to make this happen.  We are all looking forward to the day when the new Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center re-locates to a new, more central location that will better serve all the residents of Oakland County!”
Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center has many animals available for adoption, and opportunities to volunteer.  Check out their website at https://www.oakgov.com/petadoption.
Check out the oc115 video from 2013 of the current facility:

Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/07/18/advocates-and-adoption-center-try-to-navigate-whats-best-for-pets-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/08/29/andy-didorosi-honored-for-keeping-things-cool-for-county-animals-2/

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