A brighter, healthier, happier place
SPCA renovations: Dyke Family Animal Clinic valuable addition
Walking down the hallway to the Dyke Family Animal Clinic at the newly renovated Yarmouth SPCA, one of the most dramatic improvements to the facility is apparent.
Windows let natural light pour in where there was once a wall.
Karen DeWolfe, director of finance for the society and acting manager for the Yarmouth shelter, acknowledges the improvement.
“The windows make such a difference,” she said.
Visitors touring the shelter on Sept. 22 during the grand reopening had many favourable comments. People took advantage of the free roaming room to interact with cats.
“The cats are getting more attention, more pets, and love,” said DeWolfe.
In addition to the free roaming room there are three other rooms with cats in kennels as opposed to one large room, which was the case in the past. The smaller rooms are better for disease control.
Spays and neuters are now conducted twice weekly by vet- erinarian Carole Stemkowski in the Dyke Family Animal Clinic in addition to visits by the mobile spay clinic.
“We get them spayed and neutered quicker, they go up for adoption quicker, they go home to their new home faster. It all helps with the flow and the process of getting them out into their new homes. It’s a beautiful addition,” said DeWolfe. Ayden Sears meets Heather the cat in the free roaming room where visitors can interact with cats at play. The room is sponsored by Nancy and Carl Doty in memory of Don and Vera Cain. Richard Dyke cuts the ribbon with Mayor Pam Mood for the grand re-opening of the Yarmouth SPCA on Sept. 22. Part of a bequest of $800,000 to the organization by the late Eleanor Dyke and her family was used to address desperately needed renovations to the shelter and to build the new Dyke Family Animal Clinic.
There’s also a prepping area for pre- surgery and recovery and a separate intake room where new cats can be assessed, treated for fleas, weighed and vaccinated.
At the rear of the building, there’s a large fenced- in area with kennels along the east side.
Staff organize play groups in the open space with some dogs, play ball with them, and the area can also be used to provide basic training.
Frieda Perry, a former president of the Yarmouth SPCA and board member for close to two decades, says she used to be so familiar with the building in the past she could go through it blindfolded.
“Now I have to stop and think where I am. It’s so improved. They’ve made it efficient now,” she said.
The changes help to create a better work environment as well.
“Our staff love to be here and love to help animals. We’re dedicated to the animals. It’s nice that the building now reflects that,” said DeWolfe.
“Our staff love to be here and love to help animals. We’re dedicated to the animals. It’s nice that the building now reflects that.” — Karen DeWolfe
Avery, Charlotte and Robyn LeBlanc clean their hands before moving to another cat room.