Financial Concerns Slow Animal Shelter Plans

"I wouldn't say 'standstill,'" Delaware County Council Vice Chairman Mario Civera said Monday, of . 

But after Bonnett Associates, the project's architectural firm, presented their plan for the building, contractors returned with a $2 million price to build the facility—a price the county just can't stomach right now, Civera said. 

"We have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. ... We were under the impression from the beginning that we'd be spending $1.2 million, and we'd be borrowing it from Darby Creek Joint Authority ... So we were set at $1.2 million, and then they came back with $2 million. We were uneasy, and that's what slowed (the process)."

When asked what caused the difference in estimated costs, Civera listed a few of the major building expenses. "They told us that basically, we're building a hospital. We have to have two HVAC units, the drainage system needs to be stainless steel ... the plumbing is extremely expensive," he explained.

Since Jan. 1, the Chester County SPCA has been accepting strays on behalf of Delaware County municipalities, at a cost of $250 per animal.

The Delaware County Daily Times reported last week that according to Animal Protection Board Chairman Tom Judge, 61 stray animals were transported to the Chester County SPCA in January, along with 108 animals in both February and March.

Civera told Patch today that the has expressed interest in accepting county strays. The Chester County SPCA has also expressed interest in continuing the current arrangement, and Civera said that perhaps a joint agreement will be developed, where municipalities in the western part of the county will deliver strays to Chester County SPCA, and the rest to centrally located Old Marple Veterinary Hospital.

"We won't get into a crisis situation where there is no one who's picking up the animals," Civera said. "Right now, the message to drive is that we're partnering with other organizations until we get to the point where we know what can or can't be done (regarding the shelter)."

Civera also noted that there are no plans to dissolve the Animal Protection Board.

"I've put a year and a half of my time into this project; I really want to see it built. And five years ago, we could have gone to the state and gotten the money for this ... but now, economically, it just isn't there."

Judge did not return calls for comment.