SCAA breaks ground for new cattery

BONNERS FERRY — After years in the making, Second Chance Animal Shelter is breaking ground for its new cattery.

SCAA originally went out for bid in 2019, but due to the rise in material costs an additional $30,000 is needed for the project. SCAA officials said the animal shelter is at 15% of its goal at $5,000.

Cats have been in the store since the early 2000s. All improvements have been made through donation, such as the dog shelter, SCAA officials said. Cats used to be in cages around the store, but are housed where a storage area used to be with a window added to allow customers to view the cats.

While the cat area was updated a few years ago by board members, the area lacks good climate control. In addition, shelter officials said the area is a bit confined and access to the location is difficult for staff during the winter.

The new cattery will be placed behind the dog kennel and will be attached by a cement pad and an adjoining roof line to provide cover and make the structures appear cohesive and intentional, Mila Cousins, founding member of the board, said.

The building will be 24-by-24 feet and include an isolation run for dogs to separate dogs that have disease to prevent spreading to other animals. Cousins said this would be the ideal location for the run since cats can’t catch diseases from dogs.

There will be furnished portable units that can be reconfigured to meet the needs of the shelter. Radiant floor heating will be installed and water access, she said.

In addition, the layout of the new building will make it easier for employees to access, Cousins said.

The cattery will have large windows and bring in a lot of light for the felines to enjoy. Even with the added space, SCAA will not increase the cat population.

A smaller population keeps the cats healthy, Cousins said. The goal is to keep them calm and avoid overcrowding, which leads to illness.

She said that studies show that when there are less animals at a shelter more animals are adopted.

The project is scheduled to be completed in two to three months.

Cousins thanked local law enforcement for all their support when it comes to safely bringing animals to the shelter. Law enforcement has 24/7 access to the shelter and will bring in strays or lost pets when out on patrol.

Sometimes the shelter will be empty when staff goes home at night and, in the morning, all four holding kennels will be filled, due to law enforcement, Cousins said.

“Most of the animals at SCAA are owned,” Cousins said. “They are turned in and we keep them safe until their family picks them up.”

SCAA does not accept the surrender of pets by their owners. Since they are contracted to fill the void of the pound, they must have open runs to fill that need.

“We wouldn’t be able to service the community as we are contracted to,” Cousins said.