Boyd County’s New Animal Shelter is “Pawsitively Purr-fect”
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
The residents of Boyd County have reason to celebrate as doors to its newest animal shelter prepare to open bringing with it the promise of providing a safe haven for homeless pets while forging a valuable partnership with AARF (Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation). Set against the backdrop of the increasing stray populations and an ever-growing need for compassionate care for four-legged furry babes, this collaborative effort aims to make a significant impact on the lives of animals in the community.
Nestled in the heart of Boyd County, right behind Fraley Field, this new shelter stands as a beacon of hope for animals in need, offering a safe refuge where they can receive shelter, nourishment and medical attention. With spacious kennels, cozy bedding and ample outdoor play areas, the new facility is designed to ensure the comfort and well-being of its furry residents.
What sets this shelter apart is its partnership with AARF, a renowned organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of animals across the region. Through this collaboration, the shelter gains access to AARF's resources, expertise and network of volunteers, enhancing its capacity to provide quality care and find loving homes for its animal occupants. AARF and the Boyd County Animal Shelter are now able to separate the animals by utilizing all of their locations. The new animal shelter will primarily hold adult dogs. Puppies will be kept at the AARF building since they already have the facility set up to keep them isolated from the other animals. Boyd County’s previous animal shelter will be set up as a cat center.
The Boyd County Animal Shelter held its soft opening Thursday, Feb. 15. It was such a joyous day as residents of Boyd County and Ashland showed up to celebrate the monumental occasion and to visit with some of the sweetest fur babies you’ve ever laid eyes on. One of the shelter’s residents, Aspen, a Great Pyrenees mix, was the first adoption at the new location.
Boyd County Judge Executive, Eric Chaney, shared his excitement, “This is a multi-year dream come true. We started working on this project a few years ago and to see it finally happen is just something pretty special. This is an $800,000 plus state-of-the-art facility, and everything about it is top of the line. We are very excited… this is a great thing for our community, the people, and most importantly it’s a great thing for the animals.” Chaney added that the partnership with AARF is what really makes this project worthwhile.
One thing that stands out about Chaney is the fact that he is a team player, and you will often hear the word “partnership” come up in conversations with him. Chaney explained, “It’s not about “I” or “Me,” it’s about “We” and “Us.” It’s a great partnership all the way around. In the end, we are all friends… we are all family… we all got each others backs, and that’s what it takes for any project to be successful.”
Kathy Queen who is the Executive Director of AARF is equally excited about this new partnership and shared, “We are hoping to become a model facility to other facilities across the state of Kentucky and would like to see other organizations step up and become partners with their county animal shelters. We are very lucky that this has happened in our community, and this is truly a new day for the animals here in Boyd County. I just want to say that I am so proud to be part of this venture.”
With this new partnership and new location of the Boyd County Animal Shelter, volunteers are needed now more than ever. Debbie Diamond-Kumarasinghe, Assistant Director of AARF and also the Kennel Manager at the new Boyd County Animal Shelter, is actively looking for volunteers to help out at the new shelter, “I would love to have more volunteers here to come walk the dogs socialize with them, take them out, help out with fundraiser and adoption events. I can certainly use people during the day that could maybe help with answering phones or doing clerical work. We always have something that needs to be done, so we would love to have as many volunteers as we can get.”
If you or someone you know would like to find out more information on how you can become a volunteer and make a difference in the lives of our four-legged friends, you can call 606.324.0745 or visit the new Boyd County Animal Shelter which is located at 1617 Fraley Lane. The shelter will be open to the public Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
