The new Animal Welfare League shelter building will be open and operational beginning Saturday, Sept. 28. InkFreeNews photos by Liz Shepherd.

PIERCETON — Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County’s new shelter building will officially open at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.

In partnership with Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, the AWL will hold its grand opening in less than three weeks. The 13,000-square-foot building, located along US 30 at 1048 S. CR 325E, just east of Warsaw, houses twice the number of cats, dogs and other animals than its current facility a mile or so away.

AWL staff and volunteers will also be at the new facility from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, for an open house. The public is invited to come to the new location for an all-access tour.

“The focus of the open house is to keep it casual, but have it so that everyone in the community has the opportunity to see the building in its entirety for themselves,” said Katey Wilks Zemen, AWL executive director. “It’s absolutely wonderful and I will be there at the open house to answer any and all questions people have about our new home.”

The new facility will include a free-roaming cat observation room.

Key features of the new shelter include separate quarantine areas for dogs and cats, four cuddle rooms and an animal education center. The silo of the building is home to a free-roaming cat observation room. A rolling cat kennel will also be used and placed in the front lobby area for adoptable cats to reside in.

“I think that alone is great because it’ll be a great way for people to immediately see our cats who have been with us a while or our senior cats,” said Zemen.

An indoor walking track has been established for dogs to be walked during the winter. The building also has separate HVAC systems in kennel areas to avoid cross-contamination. The new shelter also has a laboratory, exam room and grooming area.

Even with the significant number of benefits for the furry residents at the new building, the shelter’s employees also are looking forward to the move. There is a designated break room, separate offices and a large reception area.

Animals at the current shelter building at 3489 E. CR 100S, will be moved to the new shelter starting Monday, Sept. 23.

During the transitation, the Animal Welfare League will not be operating from Sept. 23 through Sept. 27. The public is asked to only contact the facility if it is an emergency.

The AWL still needs approximately $800,000 to fully fund the project. To donate, call (574) 267-3008.