Workers and volunteers celebrate renovations at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter during an open house Monday.
The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter has a new exam room and a renovated surgery room.
It also has new paint, hospital-grade flooring, and a more inviting lobby area with a lower front desk and an animal adoption room.
The renovations, which included cleaning and electrical work, started in January. Except for the flooring, the work was done by the Oak Ridge municipal staff.
City workers and animal rescue volunteers celebrated with an open house Monday. They said the shelter seems more pleasant and inviting now, and the animals seem less stressed.
The open house included tours of the renovated shelter with Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. Robin Smith and Oak Ridge Animal Control Officer Randy Proffitt. Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi and City Manager Mark Watson praised the employees and volunteers for their work.
The shelter now has a full-time veterinarian from Tuesday through Friday. The Oak Ridge City Council hired the veterinarian, Matt Jinks, in December. Jinks said he performs spay and neuter operations and checks sick and injured animals, among other things.
The new exam room is located where the cat room used to be in the middle of the shelter. The cats have been moved into a new room that combined former food and storage rooms near the dog kennel area.
Shirley Auble, treasurer for Shelter Animals Rescue Group, or SARG, said that organization and Young Professionals of Oak Ridge raised $10,000 for the renovations.
The shelter installed air conditioning in the rear dog kennel area last summer.
Abbey Nelson says
Congrats, shelter staff, and thanks for doing one of the hardest jobs around. Glad you have gotten some updated digs, you and the animals deserve it!