New Mansfield Animal Shelter

Click here for a VIRTUAL TOUR of a computer rendering
of the new shelter.
(The video takes a few seconds to load.)

New Shelter Construction History

Old Shelter

New Shelter
 

Thanks to your generous donations, the animals moved into their new shelter on January 8, 2011.
For images of the new shelter, click HERE.

December 2010 - Landscaping

Anthony Cogliano of Blueview Nurseries in Norton donated bushes and trees, and Fine Landscaping donated labor and use of machinery to dig holes and plant. The results should be beautiful by the spring.

April 2010 - Base Coat of Parking Lot

Thanks to:
P.J. Keating Company of Acushnet for donating materials.
Dave DeGirolamo for donating a portion of the labor and hauling of materials.

Dave DeGirolamo (2nd from right) and crew.

February 2010 - Installation of Heating Components of the HVAC System

Sept. '09 - Weather Tight Steel Shell

April '09 - Groundbreaking

 
Photo curtsey of Jacob Belcher and The Mansfield News

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August '06 - Clearing Land at the New Shelter Site

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Imagine . . .

Imagine a shelter with a spacious cat room where cats are allowed out of their cages to play and jump and perch on cat furniture; with window seats where cats can look outdoors and feel the sunlight; with a quiet, stress free room where visitors can get to know the dogs and cats they want to adopt; with spacious dog runs; with a quiet, larger office where volunteers can work productively.

With your help this dream came true: to improve conditions for the animals who must live in a shelter while they are waiting for homes.

Why Mansfield Needed a New Shelter

The old shelter was no longer adequate for the town’s increasing animal needs. There were only 6 dog runs, and the cat room was usually filled to capacity.

· Because animals are rarely euthanized at the Shelter, many of them spent months living in cramped cages.

· Visitors who came to the Shelter to adopt had no place to meet the cats or dogs in a quiet environment.

· New cats at the shelter are placed in a quarantine room until they have seen a vet. The quarantine room in the old shelter was extremely small, with even smaller cages than in the main cat room. There was no quarantine accommodation for dogs.

· Telephone conversations between volunteers and callers were difficult because barking dogs were housed adjacent to the office.

· Office space was so small than only one volunteer at a time had room to work, despite the volume of administrative work that always needed to be done.

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For more photos of the old shelter conditions, click HERE.

Services Mansfield Shelter Friends Provides

Despite limited resources, the Mansfield Shelter Friends provides the following services for homeless animals from Mansfield:

· All shelter animals are examined by a vet before they are eligible for adoption. If needed, animals are neutered/spayed, and updated on vaccinations. They are also tested for feline leukemia, and heartworm (dogs).

· The shelter promotes adoptions by featuring animals in local newspapers, posting animal information on petfinder.com, and publishing photos of shelter animals on the shelter website which is updated weekly.

· In an effort to provide loving homes, adoption counselors screen prospective adopters for their willingness and ability to provide proper care and a suitable environment for the animals.

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About Mansfield Animal Shelter

The Mansfield Animal Shelter provides a refuge for stray and surrendered Mansfield dogs and cats until they can find homes.  The shelter is primarily self-funded. Veterinary expenses for spay/neutering, shots, and other medical needs are covered with money from donations,  fundraisers, and adoption fees.

 With the exception of the Animal Control Officer, the shelter staff is all volunteers, who provide care for the animals 365 days a year. Volunteers visit the shelter daily to feed the animals, clean their cages, launder animal bedding, walk the dogs, and provide love and attention for the homeless pets.

Old shelter by the sewer sludge treatment facility.

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