Construction commences on long-anticipated shelter For residents, clanging and sawing marks end of five-year wait BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer KATHY CHANG Construction has started at the former Woodbridge Township Pumping Station at 189 Woodbridge Ave. in Sewaren for the new state-of-the-art public animal shelter. WOODBRIDGE - After years of promises and false starts, construction has begun on the state-of-the-art public animal shelter at the former Sewaren pumping station at 189 Woodbridge Ave. The loud clanging and the buzzing of saws could be heard coming from the nearly 70-yearold building, which has been abandoned for 12 years. "It's exciting to have the contractors here," said Dennis Green, director of health at the township Department of Health and Human Services, at the announcement of the construction onsite Aug. 21. "We were lucky to find the right size building in the perfect location. It's great to say that we have moved from the planning and discussion phase to the building and discussion phase. It has all come together." Dell-Tech Inc., of Hamilton, secured the $650,500 competitive and open-bid contract to renovate the existing township owned building into the new township animal shelter and pet adoption center. Township officials said the bid was higher than the preliminary estimated cost, which ranged from $437,500 to $450,000; however, that cost did not include the addition of a second floor. Mayor John E. McCormac, the staff of Woodbridge Animal Control, volunteers from Woodbridge Animal Group, the township sponsored pet adoption program, and friends and supporters of the animal shelter joined Green at the site. "The animal shelter and pet adoption center will allow for the care and housing of animals abandoned by the public and recovered by Animal Control and will serve as a welcoming, airy and comfortable place to visit and adopt pets," said McCormac. "More importantly, the renovation and outfitting of a fully equipped, all-amenities-included facility has been accomplished within the budget allocation." The mayor thanked and credited members of the public dedicated to the creation of a permanent township animal shelter and who supported the project by raising funds for shelter amenities. "To date, the Friends of the Woodbridge Animal Shelter and the Adoption Center have raised approximately $10,000 for the animal shelter," said McCormac. Included with the $10,000 is $445 raised by Colonia resident Elizabeth D'Arcy, 14, who raised the money for the animal shelter at her birthday party on July 28. Her 14th birthday was on July 29. "I started raising money at my 10- year-old birthday party and sent the money to the World Wildlife Fund and then to Angel Paws of Colonia for two years, and now to the animal shelter," she said. D'Arcy, who received a proclamation from township officials, said she would send out her donation slips with her invi- tations for her birthday party to her family and friends. "I have two adopted cats and two stray cats at home," she said. "I have always loved animals, and when I was younger I would volunteer at my veterinarian's office and clean cages. I thought this would be a good idea, and my parents [Dan and Marcia D'Arcy] also encouraged me to do this." The 2,500-square-foot facility provides a solid foundation and structure for the construction of the animal shelter and would be fully renovated to provide clean, comfortable, and humane conditions for dogs, cats and other animals that require care and housing. The existing building allows for potential future expansion and would be renovated using friendly materials and concepts. Township officials also said the facility would meet or exceed state and health department regulations. The construction plans include installation of 17 individual dog kennels with extended indoor/outdoor runs; an oversize area for cats that will have individual cages for each feline; separate, fully ventilated dog and cat quarantine areas; a private animal receiving area equipped with cleaning facilities; and a prep room where the incoming animals would be examined prior to housing. A private veterinary care clinic where animals would be examined and treated will be on site, as well as a laundry for cleaning blankets and kennel wraps. A unique and special feature is the inclusion of a large, public area where families could greet and interact with pets prior to adoption. The second-floor expansion will include additional dog kennels and cattery. "The second floor is going to be retrofitted to help neighboring towns, such as Carteret and South Amboy, that have expressed interest in using our facility," said McCormac. John Hagerty, the township's director of communications, added that the second floor would not be limited to interlocal agreements. "It's additional kennel space to house the animals," he said. "There is $669,000 left over in the allocated budget [for the animal shelter]." Michel Testa, the architect for the animal shelter, said the new shelter will be an inviting facility and will have large windows to allow a lot of light into the building. "The building will have spacious areas for the animals and will allow the place to be comfortable for people to adopt the animals," he said. The mayor said the only setback right now is the outside dog runs. "It's a snag, but we will get it done," he said. For the past five years, residents have been waiting for a public animal shelter to replace the temporary one many said was not adequate. In September 2006, bids had gone out to build a state-of-the-art animal shelter behind the township health center; however, the bids came in too high. The lowest bid received in September 2006 was $1.046 million. The highest bid was $1.2 million, officials said. Township officials in 2004 estimated that constructing a new shelter would cost $350,000, and later, after extensive, indepth research, decided to allocate approximately $750,000 for the animal shelter, which officials have said would include 18 dog runs, 40 to 50 spaces for cats, temporary cages and storage facilities. For a short time, township officials debated renting the basement of the former Adath Israel Synagogue; however, a public uproar quashed discussions of renovating that space, despite officials calling it the best idea at the time. A $22,000 contract was awarded to Testa, of Manalapan, on April 10 to conduct a feasibility study of various vacant buildings in the township to house the shelter. Testa prepared a feasibility report and provided preliminary architectural construction blueprints of the Sewaren facility. The current 30-by-40-foot shelter houses cats and dogs in close quarters with one another. In addition to the Sewaren facility, the township has also paid $38,100 a year to house four dogs and 15 cats in a 10-by-15- foot space in the office of Iselin veterinarian Ira Niedweski for more than four years. The township also spends an additional $12,000 a year on medical treatment for the animals. Ziggy Rabiega, of Dell-Tech Inc., said he was excited to start construction on the animal shelter and reinforced the mayor's promise that the shelter would be up and running by the winter.