FUNDRAISING PUSH ON FOR NEW BRENHAM ANIMAL SHELTER

  

The final push is on in an effort to raise enough funds for a new local animal shelter.

According to this weekend’s edition of the Brenham Banner Press, just over $1.7 million of the $2 million needed has been raised for the shelter.  The current total includes $1 million from the city of Brenham, $500,000 from an anonymous donor and the rest through local donations.

City officials say another $300,000 in donations is needed within the next several weeks, if the shelter is to meet its goal of going out for bids in October, with construction beginning early next year.

Brenham Police Chief Rex Phelps, whose department oversees the animal control and animal shelter operations, says the goal is an ambitious one.

A shelter task force has been meeting regularly, working on fundraising and what features the new shelter will have.

Supporters say they hope a new animal shelter will become a regional adoption center for pets.

Phelps says they want this to be the premier pet adoption center for the region, with a family-friendly environment.

The new shelter will be twice the size of the existing facility but will have three times the number of kennels.

There will be computer kiosks where visitors can go to look at animals that are available for adoption, then ask for potential pets to be brought to special areas where they can interact.

The city has set up a special account for adoption center donations. All of the donations will go toward the facility, and can be mailed to P.O. Box 682, Brenham.