Originally operating out of its founder's garage, then serving the community from donated houses and leased buildings, Rochester Paws and Claws Humane Society will finally settle into a location all its own at the end of July.
The new building on 19th Street Northwest has been under construction since September 2012, and should be complete in the next two weeks.
"The whole push was to get our own building, one that we could have a better temporary home for the animals," said Dan Estes, who is on the Paws and Claws' board of directors and was chairman of the new shelter committee.
Between July 26 and 30, volunteers will cage and transport about 100 cats and dogs — as well as furniture and equipment — to its new location from the existing one on Seventh Street Northwest.
"It'll be quite the caravan," Estes said.
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An open house of the new location is tentatively set for Aug. 11, depending on how well the animals adjust to their new home.
"It's just a matter of getting them in and letting them settle in," he said."It's always a stressful thing for them to have change like this."
The new facility boasts custom heating and ventilation and different air exchanges specifically designed to separate cats and dogs, large and small, quarantined and adoptable.
The building was financed solely by private donations over the past five years, totaling $2.3 million for construction. The land was donated, too.
Even with contributions, Paws and Claws will have mortgage bills to pay, Estes said.
"It's going to be so great for the animals to have (this) kind of care and capacity," he said. "It's going to be cleaner and … the public will be able to interact with the animals better. We really can't wait."
