PIKEVILLE, Ky., — An official groundbreaking was held Monday and the first delivery of building materials was expected during the week for the construction of the new Pike County Animal Shelter.

The facility, located on Lykins Branch off Thompson Road and just a couple of miles from the current shelter, will will be vastly different with a modern design and more features, according to David Stratton, president of the Pike County Humane Society. Also, the interior of the new building and the outside acreage will be much larger.

The new building will have 7,000 square feet of space with 40 dog runs, seven puppy runs, two birthing centers, visition rooms for people adopting pets, surgery rooms and treatment rooms.

‘This will be a beautiful state-of-the-art facility,’ Stratton said. ‘Everyone can be proud of it.’

The new building will be located in a private country setting. The current location is directly behind the waste water treatment plant for the city of Pikeville.

The Pike County Humane Society, founded in 1981, has been working toward a new facility for a number of years and has faced several set backs with the project. The current shelter has been overcrowded for a number of years and has no room to grow, according to Stratton.

Orginially built in 1983 on a $20,000 budget, the current facility has only 1,000 square feet of space and 12 dog runs, he said.

Stratton, demonstrating the need for a new animal shelter, said just a few years ago the current facility took in 5,000 animals.

‘Of those, 4,000 had to be put down,’ he continued. ‘This means that 20 dogs and cats a day were put down.’

Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said the county has done the best it could over the years. Adding, the county’s goal is not to be forced to euthanize any animal.

‘We have treated the animals in the shelter properly and humanely,’ he said. ‘This is a great day for the animals of this county.’

He said the reason the new center will soon be a reality is because the humane society, the county government and the Pikeville city government have all worked together for a common objective.

‘This will mean a great deal to our county,’ Rutherford said. ‘This is part of the overall picture we want people to see of Pike County.’

Frankie Justice, mayor of Pikeville, called the groundbreaking a ‘tremendous day’ for the humane society volunteers.

‘You have mostly done this all by yourselves,’ he said.

Construction of the new animal shether will be completed by Elliott Contracting of Pikeville. The company was the low bidder of four companies seeking the job, Stratton said.