A standalone building recently donated to the Gilmer County Animal Shelter by its “friends of” support group will help to better facilitate pet adoptions and training for adoptable dogs.
Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter (FOGAS), purchased the adoption and training building from local supplier Eagle Ridge last fall. Following site preparation work, it was opened for use just recently. It’s located just across from the front entrance to the animal shelter at 4152 Highway 52 East.
The shelter is often a noisy place, which can be off-putting for both those looking to adopt pets and the animals, themselves, noted Sylvia Harris, FOGAS president.
“This building will be a quiet space where people can be one-on-one (with the animals) for adoptions. When it’s raining, it will also be a dry space to do all that,” said Harris. “We’ve been told already that, even when it is used for taking pictures of dogs (up for adoption), it works a lot better.”
The building will also be used for obedience training done by Sharon Callan, a local licensed dog trainer who heads the dog-related nonprofits Paws Be Good and Shelter Dogs for Veterans. It’s hoped that being able to conduct those training sessions in a quiet space will help make some of the trained dogs become better suited for adoption.
“They can now use that space to work with dogs individually. Dogs will act differently when they are in a quiet space instead of where all the other dogs are barking,” Harris said.
The adoption and training building is the third big donation made by FOGAS to the animal shelter this year. A washer and dryer and several stainless steel cat cages were also recently donated, noted Harris.
“We (try to) do a big donation like this for the shelter every year,” she added.
Much of the building setup work was also donated by FOGAS volunteers including Jack Peaden, Bill Schmid and Bob Dolloff, who handled such tasks as interior finishing, insulation, tie down and basic electrical work.
“It (looks) really nice. There is also a heat and air window system, so it is climate controlled,” said Harris.