A dog’s life at the McKean County SPCA will be a little more
cozy after new kennels are constructed for the canines.

Construction on new dog kennels is projected to be finished in
two months, according to Dick Gorton, president of the board of
directors for the McKean County SPCA.

Construction crews began tearing down the 40-year-old kennels
July 17, said Gorton. In the meantime, the dogs are being housed in
24 outdoor kennels with roofs across the street from the facility.
A tarp has been thrown across the top to help keep out water.

The 24 new five-by-10-foot kennels will be a dog’s delight and
will be part of the main building – with better lighting and
ventilation, as well as a floor heated by hot water pipes running
underneath them to keep the dogs comfortable in the winter, said
Gorton. There will be two dogs to a kennel, or more if needed. The
project is being funded by an anonymous donor.

According to Mark Luciano, the general contractor, the kennels,
70-by-45 foot as a whole, will also have sound baffles so barking
won’t echo as much, air-to-air exchanges to bring in fresh air,
garage doors on the outside to prevent kids from throwing rocks in
and “lick it” valves for water, similar to water dispensers used
for guinea pigs. The inside doors are mostly glass with aluminum
gates and the grates in the floor are larger and have covers which
can be removed to hose down waste.

The kennels will also be handicapped accessible with a ramp that
is eight feet and eight inches wide, and the inside will be a cream
color and the roof shingles will be hunter green.

Luciano did not quote a price for the project.

After the new kennels and a 16-by-13-foot storage room are
completed, SPCA officials also plan to add a new quarantine room
where sick animals or new mothers and their offspring can rest.
This project is funding by a different donor, Gorton said.

According to Luciano, the quarantine area is 10-by-32 feet.
Contractors had to bid for this project, and J.A. Luciano and Sons
Builders got it for $97,169.

While the construction is on-going, it’s business as usual, one
SPCA official said.

The construction is also not affecting any other animals,
according to Ed Rodgers, assistant manager. The cats are still
housed in their normal place.

The last renovation to the building was made roughly nine years
ago, according to Gorton, when the SPCA expanded the cat room and
changed the offices.