By Mary Sarah Fairweather
If you’ve driven down Route 28 this summer, you may have seen (and heard!) some activity at the MSPCA-Cape Cod. Yes, it’s true: progress toward building the bigger and better MSPCA-Cape Cod is proceeding apace! The MSPCA is working with Steve Jensen of Blue Sky Architecture, who has also designed the facilities in Boston and Methuen, to design a new space all under one roof, on our property in Centerville. The more efficient floor plan will allow staff and volunteers to provide the best care for the approximately 1,500 animals who come through our doors annually.
Crews have been here to prepare the ground for building our all new adoption center, which will not only be much more comfortable for the animals in our care, but also bigger, so we can roll out humane education, dog training and other services above and beyond adoption that our community has been clamoring for. Work will accelerate over the next few months and we look forward to inviting members of the public for a tour of our new space once the process is complete.
Ultimately, our new Animal Care and Adoption center will be in a position to help those who love the Cape find unique ways to spend time with their children, families, friends, and the animals in need. Once completed, our new building will include space for medical and behavioral evaluations; a modern treatment and spay and neuter clinic for homeless animals that will be named in memory of Elizabeth Arnold Stevens; and a multi-purpose training and education room for greater collaboration with local schools and community groups to give children first-hand experience with animals and caregivers. Beginning with the youngest animal lovers, the MSPCA Cape Cod will offer a beautiful learning experience for both as well as an excellent bonding opportunity.
The new center will also provide the space needed to expand a growing roster of community programs such as rabies vaccination and microchip clinics; a burgeoning food and supply pantry for needy pet owners; a program to place animals at no cost to U.S. veterans and their families; and a socialization opportunity for children in hospice.
All gifts made to the MSPCA-Cape Cod stay on Cape Cod. It is only through the generous support of individuals, companies, and foundations that we are able to fulfill our mission. The support of the community is vital to the daily operations of the shelter and the medical care we provide our animals. The campaign is a separate fundraising effort which also remains here on the Cape as we build and endow a new facility.
On behalf of all the animals entrusting us with their safety and well-being until they find forever homes: Thank you, Cape Cod, for helping us make history!
Mary Sarah Fairweather is Director of the MSPCA Cape Cod. She can be reached at msf@mspca.org or (508) 815-5236. Learn more at mspca.org/capecampaign.
