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Space gets better for dogs

Pooches waiting for adoption at the Red Deer and District SPCA now have a nicer place to roam, run and play.

Pooches waiting for adoption at the Red Deer and District SPCA now have a nicer place to roam, run and play.

In March, fundraising began for the makeover project.

The intent is to upgrade a 6,000-square-foot outdoor space behind the animal shelter by bringing in soil, seeding the area, adding fencing and lawn furniture, and setting up a memorial garden.

The backyard, dubbed the Pawsitive Playzone, is up and running with only a few minor touches such as the memorial wall left, said SPCA executive director Tara Hellewell.

“The dogs are out there utilizing it and volunteers are working with them, doing some integration, training, and it is working very well,” she said.

Prior to the changes, Hellewell said they didn’t have enough room to allow the dogs to play and wrestle. Dogs that are cooped up in kennels can start to develop behavioural issues but the SPCA is no longer running into that problem.

“We have noticed a big difference,” Hellewell said.

“They’re a lot calmer in their kennels waiting for adoption and they are able to get some free run time.”

She said that volunteer dog walkers will allow the dogs to use the Pawsitive Playzone before or after walks to burn off extra energy and socialize with other dogs.

When the $4.2-million centre off 77th Street in Riverside Industrial Area was opened in March 2010, the rear landscaping had to be left on the to-do list.

The SPCA raised funds for about two months for the Pawsitive Playzone $25,000 upgrade and receive two large donations that made the project possible. The work took two more months.

“We were very pleased,” Hellewell said.

In the coming year, the SPCA hopes to roof the outdoor dog run as well.

While they are pleased they received donations for Pawsitive Playzone, Hellewell said donations for general operations have been slow during the summer.

The SPCA is currently full with 200 dogs and cats, all that need veterinary care.

jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com