LET’S FINISH BUILDING OUR NEW ANIMAL SHELTER!

***Scroll to bottom for an update with pictures!***

If you’ve ever visited our shelter, you will know that we have severely outgrown our current location at 36 McCurdy drive - which was constructed in 1993. Our shelter is terribly cramped with cats tucked away in just about every nook and cranny. We do not have a dedicated space for adopters to meet potential family members, no place to meet with community partners or sponsors, and most importantly, no room to take in more animals in desperate need of shelter and care.

Following the Gander and Area SPCA’s inheritance of a sum of $562,00 from the late Ron and Sonya Lyttle of Traytown, NL, we began fundraising the remaining money required to build a brand-new shelter. However, the rising costs of materials trampled our dream of constructing a new building, so we switched gears and instead purchased an existing structure on Magee Road. After facing the challenges of shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have slowly but surely chipped away at the renovations required to transform our new building into a state-of-the-art animal shelter. Below is a summary of the work completed/supplies purchased for our new location thus far.

Completed work:

Total approximate value of work completed: $750,000

• Purchase of building on Magee Road

• Contracting fees and materials

• Engineering and design of building layout

• Drainage - tear up old drainage system, run new lines and drains

• Full electrical - rewiring of building due to changed layout

• Full re-insulation of exterior walls

• Room partitions and framing

• Drywall

• Plaster and paint

• Interior Doors

• Dog area kennels

• Cat kennels

Now we are on the final stretch of the completion of our long-awaited new building, but we are not quite at the finish line yet! Shelter residents are desperate to have a bigger and brighter space to call home while they await their furever families. With the completion of the new building, we will be able to comfortably house the ever-increasing volume of animals that need our care. Our new building will provide a functional space for collaboration with community groups and sponsors alike. The “New” Gander and Area SPCA will be an inviting space where the general public can come and learn more about the important work that the SPCA does for the community (and of course cuddle some cats while they’re here).

Below is a summary of the work that is required to complete and open our new shelter – it may look daunting, but we are SO close!

Work left to complete:

Total approximate cost of work left to be completed: $150,000

• Drop ceiling

• Flooring

• Baseboards, door boxes, and trim

• Electrical finishings (outlets and plates, lightswitches and plates, lighting, heaters)

• Finishing plumbing (kitchen and bathroom sinks, faucets, toilets, grooming tub)

• Cabinetry and shelving

• Appliances (fridge, stove, washer and dryer)

• Re-tinting of windows

• Fencing of backyard

• Air exchange system

We humbly ask for your support in one last push to complete our dream shelter. We graciously appreciate any and all donations to give our shelter residents the temporary home they deserve. We are a registered Canadian charity and can issue tax deductible receipts for donations of $10 or more. If you would like a receipt, please email or call the shelter (you can find our contact info online) with your mailing address and confirmation of your donation and a staff member will issue one to you!

We cannot wait to welcome you all into our new space once completed!

***Update - March 2024***

Wow! We do not have the words to express how thankful we are for the outpouring of support and donations from around the globe. We are eternally grateful for your contributions to making our dream shelter a reality for the homeless animals of Central Newfoundland.

Since posting our GoFundMe in the summer of 2023, we've been hard at work on the new shelter - the walls have been painted (with special thanks to The Come From Away Gander cast and crew and The Women of YQX for their hard work), our drop ceiling and door frames have been installed, and electrical work is in progress! We are getting closer and closer every day! Check out these pictures of how progress is shaping up!