Animal Shelter on Target for Summer Completion

Construction of the new is moving ahead on-schedule and is slated for summer completion, according to Committeewoman Deborah Nielson.

Nielson updated the public during a committee report at the April 24 township committee meeting. Nielson said the siding and roof had already been placed.

Mayor Tim Braden noted in his report that the materials for the roof, a slate roof with copper trim, were donated to the township and not funded by the township.

Construction on the shelter, which serves five towns—Montville Township, Boonton Township, Mountain Lakes, Lincoln Park and Morristown—began last April with at the location on Church Lane. But discussions on the need for a new shelter began several years ago.

The existing animal shelter is located at 86 River Road and adjacent to the snack stand of the Montville Baseball & Softball Association. A to ML Inc., of Passaic, for the construction of the new shelter in October, while then-Township Administrator Frank Bastone said the four other municipalities would contribute a total of about $100,000 for the construction costs.

Montville Pet Parents, Inc. (MPP), a non-profit volunteer organization, also donated thousands of dollars to the project, which was fundraised through the organization.

"MPP is dedicated to raise money toward building a new shelter and has launched a Capital Campaign to help fund this effort," according to MPP's website.

The website also lists reasons why a new shelter was needed, including that there is no quarantine space for dogs in the existing shelter and new arrivals and sick animals are being quarantined in the old garage.

MPP President Sue Goldblatt said Tuesday that the organization is thrilled that the new shelter will soon be completed.

"We're very excited," she said. "We've been working on this for five years now."

Goldblatt said the new shelter will be able to handle the same amount of animals that the current shelter holds. She also said that even though the construction costs are already paid for, the organization still has needs that they will be fundraising for.

"We still need to purchase furniture and cages, so we're still trying to do some fundraising," she said.

Goldblatt also said that the organization will continue to fundraise for medical supplies for the animals.