We’re making great progress with Planet Happy Cat, our new building at 327 Manitou Avenue in Manitou Springs (just 2 blocks west of the first Manitou exit)!
Phase 1 is about halfway finished, with our initial funding allowing us to take the building through to the base shell phase, with roof, doors and windows intact.
Phase 2 will see us completing the first floor so that we can move in with the population we currently house, we hope in spring of 2018.
Phase 3 will see us focusing on the second floor, where we will add 6 colonies and eventually be able to double the number of homeless cats and kittens we can save. These sunny and spacious colony rooms will have their own secure outside catios. We will also have dedicated rooms for kittens and singles, plus a sanctuary for seniors to soak up the sun.
A modern medical wing will provide even better disease control and our garden will offer quiet space for purrflection for our community as well as our staff and volunteers. Two attached apartments will help stabilize our rent to an estimated 25% of current rates.
We have recycled and repurposed many of the materials in the old building, as you can see from the patchwork of plywood on the exterior. The same materials have been repurposed for the roof. Old concrete sidewalks have been broken up to be used in our garden walls, and old doors and windows will be re-used in the interior.
Last year, our tiny Haven completed over 12% of all shelter cat adoptions in the Pikes Peak Region, a significant safety net for homeless Colorado cats.
Our remodeling costs are estimated to be $375,000, a modest investment compared to other capital campaigns, especially given our proven impact on the numbers of homeless Colorado cats. We are well on our way with over 40% raised.
We would not be where we are without your support! We know you believe in our mission and our proven stewardship of your donations. We thank all our wonderful volunteers for supporting us while we work on this exciting new phase for the good work we do in our community.
There are many opportunities to help us make this a reality, from naming major wings and rooms to sponsoring colonies or catios to memorializing your loved one with a plaque or planting in the garden or gifting your favorite cat lover with a commemorative Happy Whiskers Bowl.
Please contact Sara at sara@retired.happycatshaven.org or Laura at laura@bellandigroup.com or call 719-440-7252 if you would like to be an early bird supporter.
We also have a secure online donation site with our partner Colorado Gives, which you can go to directly here. Please let us know your naming preferences if you choose this option.
With your help, we envision a future with thousands more Happy Cats in the loving homes they deserve. We would be happy to discuss the project in detail or give tours, individually or in groups, and always appreciate referrals to your feline-friendly friends.
Groundscooping, July 2017
