NORMAN — Board members of the Norman Animal Welfare Oversight Committee are expecting to have an estimate for the animal welfare renovation during their next meeting in February.
The Committee met Monday night to discuss where plans are regarding the construction project and monthly statistics at Animal Welfare.
“The plans are looking good,” committee chair Mark Howery said. “Each step of it is looking better and better.”
John Bowman, Animal Welfare supervisor, said the next step after getting the estimate will be to get bids. The committee was expecting the bid process to happen in February or March.
One change in plans regards a police canine area at the shelter. Bowman said while estimates for the addition were originally $150,000, that number changed to $230,000 and then went down to $200,000.
“They (the police) didn’t think it was cost effective,” he said. “It’s going to get cut.”
Bowman said he expects the project to take about 12 months.
The project is part of a bond issue passed by Norman voters in November 2011. It will allow the animal shelter to expand with new construction and renovations.
The facility will triple in size, allowing more room for animals and less euthanizations that occur because of space issues, among other things.
Howery said more detailed drawings of the project will be shown during the next meeting 1:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the City Municipal Building Study Session Room. The architectural plans are being made by The Tevis Group.
Some statistics from Animal Welfare for November and December include:
· Dogs impounded in Nov.: 117; in Dec.: 105
· Dogs adopted to public in Nov.: 33; in Dec.: 40
· Dogs euthanized in Nov.: 10; in Dec.: 21
· Cats impounded in Nov.: 61; in Dec.: 56
· Cats adopted to public in Nov.: 7; in Dec.: 10
· Cats euthanized in Nov.: 13 (six were adoptable); in Dec.: 21
Bowman said six adoptable cats were euthanized because the shelter ran out of space.
In other business, the board also discussed the volunteer program for the shelter, Friends of the Animals of Norman.
FAN had its first meeting last month to brainstorm ideas about setting up a volunteer program for the understaffed shelter.
Bowman said around 45 to 55 people attended and the response was great. They are now looking for someone to organize their efforts and the group to more effectively serve the shelter.
One issue they have run into so far is volunteers having Monday through Friday jobs during business hours and wanting to volunteer on weekends, but the shelter is not open weekends, he said.
Even so, the shelter intends to use any help they can receive, and volunteers will go through orientation to help with the upcoming clinic the shelter is hosting Feb. 9 for vaccinations and micro-chipping, Bowman said.
The clinic will be from noon to 4 p.m. at the shelter. Vaccines will be available as well as micro-chipping and city pet licenses.
For more information, contact the Norman Animal Welfare at 292-9736.
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