Feline friends could one day be able to lounge outside on a “catio” at the Burnaby animal shelter.
The City of Burnaby is considering redevelopment of the Burnaby animal shelter for upgrades and modernization, according to a request for proposals.
The existing animal shelter at 3202 Norland Ave. was built in 1969 and renovated in 1982, according to bid documents.
“The facility is no longer adequate to serve the community,” according to the bid papers.
The BC SPCA has a contract to operate the shelter until December 2023.
The city wants to demolish the existing building and construct a new one- or two-storey animal shelter with nearly 7,000 square feet inside and an outdoor space of more than 8,600 sq. ft., including “exterior dog runs, covered livestock area and exterior ‘catio’ space” as well as 15 parking spaces.
The facility would be built to modern design guidelines, including those laid out by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, and would be expected to last at least 20 years.
The project is estimated at $12 million, according to city budget documents.
The documents say a future operating model is “yet to be determined.”
The current animal shelter is not wheelchair-accessible; the new building will be built to Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility guidelines.
Construction would be expected to finish by the end of 2025, if council approves the design and budget later this year, and the shelter would be ready for business in January 2026.
