The city’s animal shelter is exploring an expansion to provide additional space for cats and dogs.
Columbus Animal Care Services, built in 1987 and located at 2730 Arnold St., was designed to be expanded after 10 years, but officials are only now looking at creating a larger structure three decades after opening, said Nicohl Birdwell Goodin, general manager of the shelter.
The city-run operation will be evaluated by a team at Cummins using a Six Sigma analysis, said Mary Ferdon, executive director of administration and community development. The research, provided at no cost to the city, will make recommendations for areas of improvement, she said.
The shelter has three dedicated rooms for felines, one of which was created from office space in fall 2014. That addition doubled the facility’s space for cats, but Birdwell Goodin said the 4,600-square-foot building still struggles in providing adequate space for cats and dogs.
“We’re way past the time to expand the shelter,” she said.
Columbus Animal Care Services is an open intake facility, which means it takes in any stray animals that are picked up within the city limits, Birdwell Goodin said.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
