Cape Ann Animal Aid Receives $300,000 Challenge Grant Towards the Construction of New Animal Shelter

GLOUCESTER, MA, October 25, 2007— Linzee Coolidge, Trustee of the Dusky Foundation , announced a $300,000 'challenge' to all animal supporters—the Foundation will match contributions made toward the Cape Ann Animal Aid Building Fund dollar for dollar up to $300,000.

The Cape Ann Animal Aid officially launched its Building Fund Capital Campaign, "We Are Their Shelter, You Are Their Future" in 2006 to construct a new state of the art animal shelter in West Gloucester.  

With support from initial donations from the community, the Dusky Foundation, private parties, and an in-kind contribution from Mattuchio Construction, the CAAA broke ground for Phase One of the project, including the clearing of the road and laying of utilities for the new shelter, on December 9, 2006. 

Although many animal lovers immediately contributed to the building fund after the groundbreaking ceremony only a quarter of the funds necessary to build the 1.9 million dollar state-of-the-art shelter have since been raised.

"I think this challenge grant will be a major jump-start for our continued fundraising efforts. This is a great opportunity for our community to rise to the occasion and help us finish this project", says CAAA President, Tom Farina.

The new shelter will be a 7,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on 7.5 acres on Essex Avenue in West Gloucester. A substantial amount of the property is woods and will be preserved in its natural state. Among other things the new facility will encompass are exceptional air purification and plumbing systems, specialized animal housing, an elderly cat sanctuary, visiting rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas and a community education room.

The CAAA has outgrown its current 1,200-square-foot facility on Main St . in Gloucester where according to CAAA Shelter Manager, Sunniva Buck, and "the cat play area serves as the reception room, animal intake area, records department, evaluation room and storage area as well as the administrative offices."

Potential adopters currently meet and interact with prospective new four-legged family members in the shelter's cramped reception area, in the outdoor dog runs, or in a nearby parking lot. "The new shelter will have a more friendly space where prospective adopters and adoptees can meet and interact and where animals can have some spaces to call their own", says Buck.

 Despite the building's limitations and challenges, the CAAA still places approximately 700 dogs and cats into loving new homes each year. "We have excellent staff members and volunteers at the CAAA. The new shelter facility will allow CAAA to significantly increase the number of animals served as well as allow for more community outreach programs and services" says Buck.

 "As our campaign slogan reads: 'We are their shelter, you are their future,'" says Farina, "and we are so grateful to the Dusky Foundation for this challenge grant and look forward to receiving support from our local community and beyond as they paint the future for all of the animals we will continue to place into loving homes."

Can you rise to the challenge and contribute to the future of the Cape Ann Animal Aid?