The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
SHELTER PLANS FOR RELOCATION
CANASTOTA, N.Y. >> After five years of planning, the time has finally come for Wanderers’ Rest to find its new forever home.
“Wewant a building better suited for the animals here,” said Shelter Manager Sabrina Wilcox. “Better cages, bigger rooms, more space, better air circulation and all around, a better shelter that would allow us to provide the best care possible for the animals here.”
Board President Lewis Carinci said the board has been wanting to move for the last five years but has been waiting for the right time.
And besides animal care, there are other reasons for wanting to move.
Among them, Carinci said, is the septic system on the property. “We’ve put a lot of money into it and it’s still not working properly,” he said. “We’re putting good money into bad.”
Carinci said Wanderers’ Rest has been looking at several sites throughout the area, narrowing it down to sites with sewer and water. And to help the move, Carinci is looking to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for help.
“I’ve contacted the governor’s office not too long ago, asking for $500,000 to proceed with this move,” Carinici said. “I got the nod and as long as everything’s moving forward, I see the grant coming to us. And we’ve got a couple of donors who will give us money to match the grant to make sure we get it.”
That money was originally the Care and Compassion Grant but it hasn’t been in the budget the last
"Wewant a building better suited for the animals here. Better cages, bigger rooms, more space, better air circulation and all around, a better shelter that would allow us to provide the best care possible for the animals here."
— Shelter Manager Sabrina Wilcox.
couple years, Carinci said, but there was money left over in the budget this year. “It needs to be approved yet, but we were told to put in for the grant and as long as everything is on the up and up, we’ll be approved,” he added.
Shelter Planners of America are flying in within the next two weeks, Carinci said, to help look at sites and decide where it would be possible to move. Carinci said Wanderers’ Rest is currently looking at two possible locations in Oneida and one in Canastota.
When asked what she felt would be an ideal location, Wilcox said she’d like something that’s not directly against a main road while still in a centralized area. Wilcox said the shelter board of directors would also like to install a dog park at their new location, so her ideal site would have enough room for the shelter and still be safe to move dogs outside.
Carinci said the final decision of where to relocate won’t be decided until the Shelter Planners of America give their recommendation — this would include whether or not to build a new shelter or renovate an existing building.
“Talking with the shelter planners and the board’s own feeling, it would probably be more beneficial and cost less if we start from scratch,” Carinci said. “The key for a shelter is having proper flooring. You just can’t put concrete down and say that’s it. We want to do it the right way and not put more money into bad.”
For the two days the shelter planners are in the area, Carinci said they’ll be looking to design something that fits.
“They advise us not to build bigger than needed,” Carinci said. “They have to know the population size, how many animals we plan to take in and how many animals in the future we think we’ll take in. Too many places build too big and then can’t afford it down the road. We’re going to make sure this is beneficial to our area. Being the only shelter in Madison County, we want to make sure we’re here for a long time and build what we need for this area.”
Some things Wanderers’ Rest is considering for its new shelter include new flooring and more floor space for the animals, the removal of steel bars in favor of plexiglass to ensure dogs don’t hurt themselves, and more room to run, to name a few.
“The foremost thing is making sure the animals have a safe place and aren’t stressed,” Carinci said. “We want to treat them like they’re in a home, not a cage.”
Wanderers’ Rest was recently declared a no-kill shelter. In 2018, Wanderers’ Rest positive live release rate was at around 98 percent. Being a no-kill shelter takes a lot of dedication, Wilcox said, and any help fromthe community is appreciated.
“We rely heavily on donations andwe need that money to continue helping the animals like we are,” Wilcox said. “Without those funds, we’d have a difficult time.”
To better help animals in need, Wanderers’ Rest started Archie’s Fund, a dedicated donation program that provides medical assistance to animals who need treatment beyond what Wanderers’ Rest can provide.
“It lets us help those heartworm positive animals or who need specific testing to make sure they leave the shelter alive and healthy,” Wilcox said.
Among other services Wanderers’ Rest provides is the Spay and Neuter Voucher Program. Through the ASPCA, Wanderers’ Rest received $40,000 to assist low-income Madison County families with the costs of spaying and neutering. Wanderers’ Rest covers the entire cost of the procedure and asks for a $1 copayment. Fifty-three cats and dogs were spayed or neutered through this program in 2018.
Wilcox said Wanderers’ Rest is always looking for things like canned dog and cat food, dog and cat toys, squeegees, mops, office supplies, bleach and laundry detergent, among other items to help with day-today operations.
Those who wish to make a monetary donation can visit the Wanderers’ Rest website at http://wanderersrest.org, visit the shelter or send a check in the mail. Donors can specify where their money goes, whether it be Archie’s Fund, the new building, or an area of their choice.