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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The NWT SPCA's first standalone animal shelter in Yellowknife received a fresh coat of paint and new windows this week, despite lacking the funds it needs to complete construction of the building.

After designing the shelter, purchasing the land and obtaining permits, the next challenge lies in raising between $50,000 to $60,000 to complete the project.

NWT SPCA president Nicole Spencer doesn't quite know how that's going to happen.

"Our challenge is finding out where exactly to apply or ask for funding," she said.

"Either the GNWT or the city will help out - but I heard the city is less willing to participate because it's a NWT SPCA and they don't think they should be entirely responsible for it."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem denied that, saying last week that up to this point the city would entertain any requests made by the SPCA for funding.

The NWT SPCA won a national contest in December 2010, receiving roughly $300,000 from the insurance company Aviva Canada Inc. to build the organization's shelter.

However, a lack of volunteers and funds means the future of the shelter remains uncertain.

"We have a carpenter framing windows and we've primed the inside with the help of volunteers," Spencer said.

"The inside windows will be an additional cost and we'll need more volunteers this weekend to help with the painting."

The new facility will be able to hold up to 40 dogs and 10 cats. Earlier this month, the SPCA was planning on ordering 15 dog kennels and 10 cat condos, which should take eight weeks to arrive. The rest of the kennels will be ordered next spring.

Another challenge on the horizon is figuring out who will run the place.

As an example, Spencer mentioned the Hay River shelter which, despite its small size, has two paid part-time employees.

"We're going to have a much larger shelter," Spencer said. "So we'll need two part-time employees at the very least."

A yearly fundraiser - the Dog Ball - held in August will help raise some funds and Spencer hopes the shelter can be completed by September.

The new facility will serve all of the NWT so the need for the facility is becoming more and more dire, she said.

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