Almost 250 of Jefferson County’s furry and feathered friends settled into their new home Monday morning when the Table Mountain Animal Center officially moved into the new Foothills Animal Shelter.
Caravan by caravan arrived full of animals ready to be loaded into new homes as nearly 100 staff, volunteers and Jefferson County animal control officers executed the carefully orchestrated five-hour move.
“This is a dream come true for these guys,” said shelter employee Heather Dulcy as she watched cats peek out of their boxes and begin exploring their new homes.
“I couldn’t be happier for them.”
The new, 30,000-square-foot facility more than doubles the size of the old building and includes a surgery suite with the capacity for two simultaneous surgeries. There are now six yards for volunteers and staff to play with and train the dogs. Cats are either in private three-story kennels or a communal colony with climbing apparatus.
The $9.7 million facility was funded in part by the Jefferson County dog licensing program, a general county fund and the Foothills Animal Foundation. The foundation has raised $850,000 of its $1.5 million goal and is still seeking donors.
In preparation for the move, Table Mountain Animal Center held an Adopt-A-Thon and adopted out 165 animals. Left to make the move were turtles, an iguana, a duck, cats, gerbils, rabbits, ferrets and dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages.
Kim Jones, a shelter volunteer on the receiving team who ushered dogs into their new kennels, said the move ran smoothly.
“Everyone’s been really good, even the ones we don’t know as well because they’re newer have been behaving well,” Jones said. “It’s just exciting to see everyone in their new homes with so much space.”
Bianca Davis: 303-954-1698 or bsmith-davis@denverpost.com
Pick a pet
Foothills Animal Shelter is located at 590 McIntyre St. in Golden. Anyone interested in adopting an animal should stop by the shelter or call 303-278-7575.
