Works begins on $1.9M Portsmouth animal shelter

PORTSMOUTH

The local Humane Society shelter is a cramped, loud, smelly place.

Dogs are stacked in cages barely longer than their bodies. New strays are held in a small staff kitchen. Cleaning is such a chore that workers have little time to exercise the animals, which in turn vent their energy with an explosion of barking at the sight of a human.

The scene will change dramatically when the Portsmouth Humane Society moves into its new $1.9 million building later this year. Work has begun on the site off Greenwood Drive at 4020 Seaboard Court, even though the capital campaign is still $400,000 short of its goal.

To celebrate the start of construction, the shelter is waiving its adoption fees today through the end of June for animals older than 1 year inexchange for donations of any amount.

"It's going to be brighter and cleaner and a happier place to visit," said Christie Chipps Peters, executive director of the Portsmouth Humane Society.

Peters has high hopes for what the new building will accomplish, and not just for the dogs and cats. She wants to start an after-school program for at-risk youths, an experience she thinks could help steer kids from trouble and stem the tide of irresponsible animal ownership in neighborhoods that produce many of the stray and abandoned animals the shelter sees.

There's no way such a program could work at the current site on Frederick Boulevard. Built in the early '80s, the building was at roughly double its appropriatecapacity with 117 dogs and 123 cats this week, Peters said. Even more were in foster care.

Portsmouth Humane Society Blog: 3rd Annual "Cause for Paws" - A ...

Hundreds of paws paraded around Portsmouth during the 3rd Annual "Cause for Paws" 5K Run, Dog Walk & Festival, which was held Saturday April 30, 2011 at North Landing in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Over 300 attendees and their canine companions came out to support the Portsmouth Humane Society's annual fundraiser, which raised over $29,000- a record amount for the event! A 5K Run kicked off the event, with over 100 participants running the course through Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth. Dogs and their owners then participated in a 1 mile dog walk which was followed by the Festival. Supporters were able to shop from local vendors, learn about the dedicated work of rescue groups, enjoy delicious food and relax to the music of the "Joint Therapy" band.

Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York

New York Legislative Documents

The National humane review

Humane Societies of the United States, Humane Society of Indianapolis, Peninsula Humane Society, Illinois Humane Society

The Ohio bulletin of charities and correction