Kitchener-Waterloo

Guelph Humane Society gets $5M boost for new facility

The Guelph Humane Society will begin construction on a brand new facility, after a $5 million donation from a local couple.

Construction on brand new, purpose-built facility can now begin this month

The Guelph Humane Society's new 18,000-square-foot building will be outfitted with brand new facilities and programs for the animals. (J. David McAuley Architect Inc.)

The Guelph Humane Society can now start construction on a brand new facility, after a $5 million boost from a local couple.

The donation was made by longtime Guelph residents, Kim and Stu Lang, who are supporters of the humane society.

"The new facility will stand as representation for the work that we're doing in the community already," Adrienne McBride, executive director of the Guelph Humane Society told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

"[It] will be a physical representation of what's happening inside that building and the value that we place on the animals that we're caring for."

The organization has been at its current location near the city's wastewater treatment plant for over 50 years.

McBride said the new 18,000-square-foot building will be outfitted with large animal spaces both inside and outside, proper air quality control throughout the building and a variety of upgrades and programming for both the animals and visitors.

"We've built it and planned it in a way that really considers the animals' welfare," she said.

Construction is expected to take about a year, and the new facility will be located at 190 Hanlon Creek Blv. in Guelph, in the city's new Hanlon Creek Business Park.