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Every year, the staff at the SBACC Shelter manages over 4,000 animals. The officers, who are available 24/7, 365 days of the
<br />year, do their best to answer all calls regarding stray animals, lost animals, abused animals and neglected animals. The kennel
<br />staff, that is available 7 days a week, year round, does its best to provide compassionate care for all the animals that find their
<br />temporary home at the shelter. Unfortunately, for the staff and for the animals, the current facility is extremely inadequate for
<br />the work that they do. The current facility is a century-old building that was converted from a vacated fire station into a shelter
<br />in 1996. The 3,100 square foot facility is severely limited in space. Bearing in mind that on any given day SBACC provides a
<br />temporary home for up to 100 animals; the current facility only allows for 17 kennel runs, 12 dog cages and 23 cat cages. As
<br />well as the space limitations, the building has several structural issues as a result of its age. For example, the building has
<br />appalling drainage problems due to the aging plumbing.
<br />Another issue with the building is the lack of adequate ventilation and air flow. Air flow and ventilation become a particular
<br />problem when there is a sick animal in the shelter. Several of the common pathogens that affect animals are airborne
<br />pathogens. Wrthout adequate airflow and /or the space to quarantine the sick animals, these diseases spread rapidly amongst
<br />all the animals.
<br />The new facility would nearly quadruple the size of the existing facility and will increase adoptions and volunteerism. Unlike the
<br />current 3,100 square-foot facility, the new 9,378 square-foot shelter would give SBACC ample room for additional kennels and
<br />cages as well as room for: Its own spay-neuter clinic, an expanded lobby and reception area, an adoption preparation area for
<br />bathing and grooming of animals, interaction room for families to meet with prospective pets, a confined area to unload animals
<br />from vehiGes, a secure area for the quarantine of bite case 8~ dangerous animals, a treatment area for sick and injured animals,
<br />a secured area that is protected from the elements for after-hours drop-offs.
<br />In 2009 South Bend Animal Care &~ Control responded to 4,558 calls for service, 712 after hour calls and handled 3,852
<br />Domestic animals. Of those animals 357were adopted out, 414 were returned to their owners and sent 344 to other rescue
<br />organizations. SBACC also assisfed 249 wild animals.
<br />SBACC hosted the Neuter Scooter, a mobile spay/neuter clinic, on 9 visits allowing more than 500 families and 7 rescue groups
<br />get 1,008 cats spayed or neutered.
<br />CARE (Community Animal Rescue Effort) of South Bend held several fund raisers/adoption events, Friend raiser ~ SB
<br />Chocolate Cafe, No Spay no Neuter No Service with Hacienda, Run Ten Ten (10 K & Mutt March), Curl up with a critter book
<br />sale with Borders, Howl-O-Ween costume party ~ Howard Park, Skating Party with Parks Department, Santa Paws ~
<br />PetSmart, PetSmart Spring and Fall National Adoption Event.
<br />SBACC has begun a partnership with Brown Mackie College Veterinary Technology Program. Thru this program we have been
<br />able to have nearly 100 animals health checked, treated, vaccinated, diagnosed and tested for certain diseases. Additionally
<br />more than 40 animals were spayed/neutered and no cost to the City of South Bend. This partnership benefds the students by
<br />providing experience in animal care in a kenneling environment, valuable animal handling skills, practical medical skills, as well
<br />as education/insight they can take into practice obtained from shelter experience including the- end result of animal
<br />overpopulation and animal abuse 8~ neglect issues. SBACC animals benefit by receiving vaccinations, medical screening tests,
<br />medical treatment, grooming, human interaction and care and spay 8 neuter surgery.
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