HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20110803_AnimalShelter.docPRESS RELEASE: Contact: Tybee Island City Hall
For immediate release (912) 786-4573
City of Tybee Island Opens New Animal Control Shelter
Tybee Island, Ga. – (August 4, 2011) The public is invited to the grand opening of Tybee’s new Animal Control Shelter on Wednesday, August 10th, at 7:00 PM at the Tybee Island Police
Station, 78 Van Horne Street, on Tybee Island. Tybee’s Mayor Jason Buelterman and Police Chief Robert Bryson will recognize the volunteer help and contributors who made this project
possible, including Lowe’s for their donation of materials.
Marie Rodriguez, owner of pet-sitting business Island Critter Sitters on Tybee and an active participant in The Milton Project, which neuters feral cats, was the key participant in remodeling
the animal shelter. The Police Department was concerned about the health and welfare of pets picked up as a result of animal control actions on the island, because the animal shelter
consisted only of a roofed, fenced-in area with little in the way of facilities to help care for the animals. Due to her visibility and pro-active efforts for animals, Ms. Rodriguez
was approached for advice on any grants or financial help that might be available to upgrade the shelter. However, with little in the way of financial support available for animal rescue
efforts, Ms. Rodriguez started fund-raising locally, lobbied the home improvement retailers, and by mid-year had gathered the monies needed to start. Lowe’s donated or gave discounts
on the building material. Joe Wilson, head of the Tybee Island Department of Public Works, assigned a crew to the building efforts, which took about three weeks to complete, after Tony
Petrea, owner of general contractor Consolidated Services, donated his time to lay the concrete block foundation.
The new building has three indoor/outdoor dog runs, large indoor crates with litter boxes for cats, and a stainless steel sink area for washing and filling bowls. The Tybee Island Police
Department will provide the finishing touches of lighting and fans.
The building is part of on-going efforts to improve animal control on the island. TIPD’s Animal Control Officers have been posting information about both recovered and lost pets on the
City’s Facebook and web pages in an effort to re-unite more pets with their owners more quickly for over a year.
Refreshments will be served following the grand opening ceremonies.
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About Tybee Island, GA.: The City of Tybee Island, Georgia is on the outermost barrier island off the Savannah area coast. With a wild bird sanctuary, over three miles of ocean beaches,
and salt marshes on the back river, outdoor recreation activities abound for visitors to the island. As a key defense point to the important Savannah port, Tybee’s Fort Screven, Tybee
Post Theater, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island and Cockspur Lighthouses combine with the unique architectures of the island’s raised cottages to form a rich backdrop for history buffs.
Attracting a strong artistic community, there are several local supporting art galleries. Keeping the island interesting year round are several arts festivals, the Annual Pirate Fest,
the Beach Bum Parade, St Patrick’s Day
celebrations, the Hot Rod Run, the Beach Bash, and the Christmas Parade, as well as fireworks displays on Independence and New Year’s Days off the Walter W. Parker Pier and Pavilion.
The Marine Science Center cooperates with Georgia’s DNR to protect threatened sea turtle species by searching for nests, protecting their eggs, and making sure hatchlings make it to
sea. For visitor information, stop by http://www.tybeevisit.com/, and to find more about the City of Tybee Island, visit our web site at http://www.cityoftybee.org/.