December 1, 2017
ASHLAND, Ky. – Boyd County officials broke ground on Friday for a new animal shelter on land donated by Kentucky Power.
The 2.15-acre lot that will house the shelter is part of a larger parcel that Kentucky Power previously purchased from the county for a new substation. The substation is included in the company’s long-term plans to upgrade its electrical system to serve the East Park Industrial Park, Braidy Industries and other customers in the area.
Earlier this year, the county requested that Kentucky Power and American Electric Power consider donating some of the purchased land closest to the main road back to the county for the shelter and the company agreed. The remaining land is expansive enough to accommodate the new substation. The company will retain ownership of the roadway to access and maintain the future substation and grant an easement to the county.
“The Boyd County Animal Control Shelter provides a valuable and much needed service in our community and we are proud to partner with them on this and other projects,” said Kentucky Power President Matt Satterwhite. “We are happy that we are able to support the county’s goal to provide a new and expanded shelter and still be able to continue with our plans to update the electric system to serve our current and future customers.”
The new animal shelter will be a 5,300-square-foot, pre-engineered metal building and is much larger than the current block building. The new facility is expected to open in the spring, said Boyd County Judge Executive Steve Towler. The new shelter will include 52 regular kennels, 10 isolation kennels, two visitation and examination rooms, a cat and puppy area, a cat colony, 28 outside runs, and a large fenced area for dogs.
