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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting –February 19, 2010 <br /> <br />disrepair along the newly constructed Bendix <br />Avenue. The plan is to remove the asphalt <br />parking and return it to park land. Rehab of <br />this facility will greatly improve the corridor <br />to LaSalle Square. <br /> <br />Mr. Gary Libby, Director of Animal Control, <br />explained the mission of Animal Control. It <br />is opened 365 days of the year, 24 hours a <br />day. They serve citizens with both domestic <br />or wildlife problems. In 2009 they had 4,558 <br />calls for service; 712 of those were after <br />hours. They take in stray and unwanted <br />animals, try to re-house those animals. They <br />return lost pets to their owners. They <br />sponsor the Neuter Scooter servicing over <br />500 families, neutering over 1,000 animals. <br /> <br />Mr. Libby noted that Animal Control’s <br />current shelter is too small, land locked, is <br />right next to an active railroad track, and its <br />two story layout is not accessible to <br />handicapped people or the elderly. The one <br />hundred year old building is structurally <br />deteriorating and is outdated for its use as an <br />animal shelter. <br /> <br />Two years ago Mr. Libby looked for an <br />architect to design a new animal shelter. Fort <br />Wayne had just constructed a new shelter and <br />recommended Tom Farney of Grinsfelder <br />Associates. Mr. Farney has been working <br />with South Bend Animal Control on the <br />design of a new facility. <br /> <br />Mr. Farney has become skilled in planning <br />animal shelters. Animal shelters are very <br />specialized. If their specialized needs are not <br />addressed up front, it becomes very difficult <br />to make the changes later. Animal shelters <br />are very high maintenance. The correct <br />construction can minimize the staff time <br /> 17 <br /> <br />