34 South Main St., Attleboro, MA - (508) 222-7000
News
Nine Lives getting new life in Norton
 Volunteer veterinarian Dr. Shawna Li of the Norton Animal Hospital makes one of her regular visits to the Nine Lives Feline Rescue Shelter in this April 23 photo. The cramped Nine Lives has a new lease on life, with plans to build a new shelter. (Staff photo by Mark Stockwell)
Top Headlines The organization expects to build and open a new animal shelter on town land on Hill Street this year. Voters at Monday night's special town meeting directed selectmen to lease the site to Nine Lives or a similar nonprofit for a new shelter for more than three years. The location is a vacant part of town land housing Norton's animal shelter. The buildings will face each other, Nine Lives Volunteer Treasurer Thomas Burke said Thursday. Burke said he believes the lease will be for $1. Ruth Goold, a member of the shelter board, said Nine Lives has raised at least $100,000 toward the single-floor project. She added that Norton has agreed to waive its permit fees. Nine Lives is looking at two or three construction bids for the 24-foot-by-48-foot facility, Burke said. Some work, such as excavation, will be donated. Construction "should start and finish this year," Burke said. "We've all got our fingers crossed," he said. The new building will be Nine Lives' third home since being founded on March 17, 1997, Burke said. The group first used the Oak Street farm and property of then-Animal Control Officer Betty Fogarty, he said. In July 1998, Nine Lives moved to a former town building on West Main Street, between Norton Middle School and the Mansfield Bank. "Originally, there was a lot of skepticism about allowing us to use that building," Burke said. Some residents worried about seeing "cats everywhere," he said. Now, the current shelter is cramped, Burke said. "The building is in major disrepair. It needs a new roof. It needs a number of things," he said. "We've been there for 10 years, so we can't complain. It's been good to us. It's good for several more months. But it's time to move on." The new shelter will have space for about 20 cat cages, compared with 17 now, Burke said. More storage space, an office area and a feral cat room will be among the features of the new shelter, he said. MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.
|
