Help Huntley’s Animal House Shelter fund building expansion

Animal House Shelter, 13005 Ernesti Road in Huntley, is expanding its facility in order to save the lives of more than 5,000 dogs and cats each year. Since 2002, the 501(c)3 no-kill shelter has rescued, rehabilitated, and found homes for more than 65,000 dogs and cats.

They need your help to make this project a reality.

Lesley Irwin started the nonprofit shelter in Barrington in 2002 before moving to Huntley in 2006. It quickly outgrew the current facility. Currently, they are driving to six different veterinary clinics to keep up with the medical needs of the animals. That has become time-consuming and costly for the shelter, which prompted the nonprofit to begin an expansion project with the help of private donations.

With this expansion, Animal House Shelter is looking to build a state-of-the art vet clinic on the shelter property to take care of all of the animals coming to the organization from high-kill facilities throughout the year.

In addition, this clinic will provide low-cost vaccinations, microchips, and spay and neutering to all communities in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Expansion highlights include:

• Additional kennel space for animals to allow the shelter to increase the number of animals served;

• A child education center to host schools, groups, and more for tours and educational programs;

• Ten bonding rooms for multiple families to meet with potential pets to adopt;

• State-of-the-art veterinary clinic to allow us to treat animals on site and lower costs to provide them with the best care;

• Sanctuary rooms for long-term dogs to make them feel more at home;

• Additional indoor and outdoor exercise yards for the dogs;

• Added volunteer center to accommodate the volunteers

As part of the expansion, Animal House Shelter is offering naming rights with signage. They also have tribute bricks (4 by 8 inches for $150 each or 8 by 8 inches for $300 each); tribute bench for $1,500; tribute tree with plaque for $1,000 or without plaque for $750. To order a tribute bricks, benches and trees, go to www.animalhouseshelter.com/expansion/.

For questions, email expansion@animalhouseshelter.com or call 847-951-2066.

Interested in donating materials?

Animal House Shelter accepts donations of building materials to help expand the shelter. Some materials specifically needed are: artificial turf, windows and doors, bricks and stone, trees, benches, commercial kennel equipment, veterinary equipment, building materials, fencing, industrial washers and dryers, bath tubs for grooming dogs, flat-screen TVs, and computers.

For information, visit www.animalhouseshelter.com/expansion/.