During our recent visit to Massachusetts, we visited Cape Ann Animal Aid adoption center. It is located in a back road but during the short time we were there, four families came to see the dogs and cats available for adoption. The place is bright and cheery, especially the rooms where cats are housed. They have different set ups for the cats. Some are in quiet rooms and some are in the main area. They let some cats roam free. They told me the place is run by private donations and grants they receive. Some of the cages are sponsored by people and they have bricks at the entrance with names of people who donated to the shelter. I asked them if they ever received rescues from other parts and they said they have done it, but they mainly focus in helping cats in their community.
I wish Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control building looked like the one in Cape Ann. Our shelter looks more like a prison than an animal shelter. Unfortunately, I learned that the shelter's director does not have authority to make any changes to the building itself. She is not allowed to paint or put any art on the walls. The Palm Beach County buildings are under the responsibility of the Facilities Development & Operations Department. The director of this department is Audrey Wolf and she is the one that would need to authorize any changes. I do not know if Ms. Wolf requested money in the budget for any improvements to ACC this coming year. I have not had time to research if it would be possible to make improvements to the shelter via private donations. There seems to be some law that might prevent the shelter from receiving donations for capital improvements. Not sure yet. Hopefully, we will be able to form a citizens group to request changes to the ACC building to improve chances of people visiting the shelter to adopt the thousands of dogs and cats that the shelter receives annually.
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