LANCASTER, Pa. —
An animal shelter in Lancaster is in the middle of upgrades to give its residents—and visitors—an even better experience.
Phase one of Humane Pennsylvania's renovations to its Lancaster campus included introducing boarding services and upgrading its adoption center for cats and small pets. Karel Minor, president and CEO of Humane Pennsylvania, says the new Adoption Center for Cats & Critters is a big deal because these small animals have typically had less space and enrichment than dogs, and now small pets who will be at the shelter for longer stays will be more comfortable.
Organizers say a reduction in the number of animals entering and dying in shelters nationwide have changed the needs of animals and the community, prompting Human Pennsylvania to change to meet those needs.
"Often people have animals with special behavior needs, health needs, even K-9 police officers, they can't get into boarding spaces," Minor said. "Offering this, we think, is a really important service."
Humane Pennsylvania is the first nonprofit animal shelter to be licensed as a boarding kennel in Pennsylvania and one of a few around the country. It will have about 50 boarding spaces each for dogs and cats when the renovations are finished.
"What we know is people are bringing animals to shelters because they lack a service often," Minor said. "So if we can provide affordable veterinary care, sterilization services, boarding services, all the supports that they need through Pet Pantry and other things that we offer, we can keep animals home where they belong, rather than coming to us and needing to be adopted again."
Phase two of the project will include renovating additional boarding and emergency housing space and bringing Spike's Pet Food Pantry, which helps supply pet food to thousands of families in need, to the Lancaster campus.
Humane Pennsylvania hopes to have the renovations complete by this summer. It is hosting a grand opening for the Lancaster campus located at 2195 Lincoln Highway East, on March 30 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.