Seward's New Animal Shelter Update

I spoke with Seward City Manager Scott Mezaros on May 26 about the status of the new animal shelter. The shelter remains a top priority for the City, is considered "shovel ready" and will be advanced/presented to the city council by Scott and City Planner Jackie Wilde by the end of June. 

Last fall, the City hired Lumen Design of Anchorage to create a design concept including an artistic rendering, square footage and cost. The public roll-out of the document has been delayed, in part due to the virus, and Jackie assured me today that she should have the document this week. 

Scott knows that the SOS Pets fund-raising potential is limited. But I assured him that we can document enthusiastic past public support, add ~$40,000 to the pot, and, when we have the city-approved design plan from Lumen, rally the community both in terms of advocacy and private donations.

As you might expect, money is the issue. But Scott said the City is able to issue a bond for the cost of the shelter. If that is proposed, I'd like to make a huge community push to support it.

This is all good news. I had feared that the reduced revenue to the City because of the virus would postpone consideration of the shelter. But that's not the case.

So when we get a city-approved design document, it will be time to strategize and motivate and get this new shelter built!

Mark Luttrell, President

SOS Pets