CREST HAVEN — Every dog must have his day and canines residing temporarily at the Cape May County Animal Shelter had a very good day Saturday, Sept. 20 during “Take a Pause for Pets.”
The Cape May County Animal Shelter Alliance officially opened its new courtyard between their spay and neuter clinic mobile home and the shelter building. One of its key features is an exercise/agility course, which was enjoyed by shelter dogs of all sizes from a Lab mix to a Jack Russell Terrier.
The course was built by Lower Cape May Regional High School student Joseph Safaryn, 15, who is working for Eagle Scout status at Troop 73, West Cape May. The agility course includes weave poles a seesaw, a tetherball and climbing ramps.
“The dogs had a lack of fun in the life so I decided to build this for my Eagle Scout project,” said Safaryn.
He said he found designs on the Web and assembled the project with a little help from his friends.
“We’re hoping to get the shelter animals over here to start using it so that they have some enjoyment,” said Joan D’Avanzo, vice president of the Alliance. “It’s there day out, it’s their amusement park.”
The Alliance, an all-volunteer organization, operates a weekly spay-neuter clinic from the trailer. She said their second role was to educate the public on humane treatment of animals.
Classes for students from elementary to high school will be held in the courtyard. D’Avanzo said the classes would cover pet care, medical topics and what happens if a dog or cat is not spayed or neutered as far as increasing the animal population.
Cape Shore Gardens provided trees and shrubs and Bayshore Landscaping planted sod and installed a sprinkler system free of charge.
Mike DiPalantino is installing memorial brick pavers for those who want to pay tribute to their pets in a walkway. Landscape Architect Steve Grout created the design for the courtyard, which started out as a sand pit.
County Animal Shelter Manager Ed Brunell said he would work with shelter dogs “one-on-one,” in the new courtyard including some obedience training, which will make them more adoptable.
He said he was pleased with the attendance of the event where a number of dogs found new owners.
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