Who’s in the doghouse?

Last Friday, Nov. 14, an estimated crowd of 80 or more County residents, pet lovers, and local officials attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for Inyo County’s new $800,000 animal shelter in Big Pine.

The new shelter is the result of the efforts of Inyo-Mono County Animal Resources & Education of the Eastern Sierra (ICARE) coupled with the help of the community and individual donors, support from the County of Inyo, and local civic and service groups.

ICARE founding members Ted and Lisa Schade were not available at the ribbon cutting, but their hard work and efforts were acknowledge by all present.

Rudolph Construction of Bishop has completed the outer shell of the building, but the finishing touches on the interior are expected to go quickly

Inyo County Public Works Director Clint Quilter said he expects the shelter will be ready for its grand opening by the end of December or early January of 2015.

The old shelter was originally a milk barn at the county farm, dating back to the 1920s. The new shelter will house almost twice as many dog kennels and cat cages as the old one, which will still find use as a quarantine and storage area.

The shelter staff will finally have plenty of office space, visitors will enjoy the new reception and waiting area in comfortable surroundings, and there will also be cleaning and care stations for the animals housed at the facility.

“What is remarkable about the new animal shelter was its successful partnership of the public and private sectors,” concluded Inyo County Supervisor Rick Pucci.