The Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley literally broke new ground Saturday.
Shrugging off chilly, wet weather, Shelter officials and friends held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new facility in Howes Cave.
After Saturday’s ceremonial start, actual construction was expected to begin on Monday.
The new facility will be right next to the current one on Howes Cave Road.
The current shelter houses nearly 70 dogs and cats. Built about 20 years ago, it has water problems and is in disrepair, officials said.
The new building will have a spay and neuter clinic, considered to be essential to helping the stray-pet problem. It will also have a surgery room, birthing kennel, recovery room, isolation area and kennel and cage space.
With a price tag of $350,000, the new building won’t be bigger than the current one, but it will be more efficient, according to Shelter President Mina Stella.
She said Saturday that the organization has raised enough for the first phase of the building, the shell, and probably enough for the second phase.
On hand Saturday were Mark Galasso of Lancaster Development and Emil Galasso and Mike Moore of Cobleskill Stone Products.
Lancaster Development made a large monetary donation, while Cobleskill Stone provided the grading, stone and concrete pad.
“We could have given them the money, but if we come in and do the site work, it’s more cost-efficient for the Shelter,” Emil Galasso said.
Later, Cobleskill Stone will do the landscaping and grass, he said.
Finger Lakes Construction is the contractor.
Ms. Stella said donations are coming in pretty well, though she wasn’t sure about the building timetable.
“Some people say it may take three years, but I’m hoping for one,” she said.
The Shelter will operate in its current building during construction.
The Shelter is looking to the community for donations. Individuals and businesses can sponsor specific rooms or kennels in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Smaller donations are also welcome.
To donate, checks should be made payable to ASSV with a notation that it’s for the building fund. They can be mailed to ASSV, PO Box 40, Hoes Cave, 12092.
For more information, call Vice President Connie Spaulding at 234-2709.