The Islip Town Board voted against a bond that would raise funds for a new animal shelter, in April this year, even though some officials and animal advocates say the current shelter is inadequate. However, it's likely the measure will come up before the board again.
The current facility was built in 1964 and needs constant repairs to its mechanical systems and infrastructure, according to James Heil, who is the town commissioner of the Department of Environmental Control. Heil notes the facility is short on space to store linens and food, and its systems, while current when they were installed, are no longer up-to-date.
He revealed that a number of repairs have been necessary simply to keep the shelter operating. At present, the shelter is not overcrowded, but it's not a modern complex, he says. If the bond measure is approved when it's reintroduced, a new animal shelter, comprising 20,000 square feet, could be built on Carleton Avenue in Central Islip, on land owned by the town.
Officials who voted against the first bond did so largely because of the cost, which was $5.5 million; Heil says the second request was stripped down to provide just the basics, adding that the shelter has to handle many species, not just cats and dogs.
Facilities like this can benefit if officials work with a brochure printing company to create Booklets for residents that show what a new shelter might look like.
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