Doggie digs, kitty condos will have rooms with a view

With pooper scoopers in hand and a cat-erpillar front-end loader as a backdrop, Jefferson County Commissioner, Kevin McCasky noted, “Pooches and felines will have rooms with a view when the Foothills Animal Shelter opens next year.” The new-fangled 30,000 square-foot facility for Jefferson County’s homeless animals is perfectly situated west of Denver. The furry four-leggeds will have a skyline view of Denver to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west.

By the end of 2010, the new animal C.A.R.E. center will be reality,” said Jill McFadden, Executive Director of the Center. The theme C.A.R.E; community, adopt, reunite and educate are the guiding principals for the center. Built on 3 acres of ground at 6th Avenue and the Jefferson County Fairground, the building will be double the size of the dated structure.

The present Table Mountain Animal Center (TMAC) is located at 38th Avenue and 1-70. Currently, the center is a public/private partnership providing animal control services to nine municipalities in Jefferson County. It has been in existence for 33 years as an open-admissions facility that never turns an animal away. When the move is complete the refuge will be renamed, Foothills Animal Shelter.

TMAC’s present staff cares for approximately 10,000 animals a year and is the second largest animal care center in the Denver-metro area. The existing hub has outgrown its space, often depending on a network of foster families (off-site) to care for animals when space is limited. Based on data from similar new facilities, it is expected improved living conditions and a more inviting visiting environment for potential adopters will lead to a significant boost in adoptions. In addition, it will permit Foothills Animal Shelter to provide more on-site, cost-effective medical care and increase the number of spays, neuters and vaccinations. McFadden said, “The new structure will make possible humane education and animal welfare programming necessary for a true community-based Animal C.A.R.E. Center.”

Sholar Architecture of Golden and Blue Sky Animal Care Architecture designed the facility. The Weitz Company is the general contractor.