Renovations at the Edmonton Humane Society are well underway but the organzation is still in need of extra donations to meet its $2.4-million goal. However, two anonymous donors are stepping in to possibly push the goal past the finish line.

“We’ve had two really generous anonymous donors who wanted to make a big impact, and so they’ve agreed that their money will be unlocked by matching the donations from the community for the next few weeks, and so we’re really excited that we get to double the impact for individuals in the community who are making these donations,” said society CEO Liza Sunley.

Renovations on 36 animal spaces have been ongoing since April with the aim of addressing the wear and tear on the building while still being able to maintain its current capacity.

“The renovation that we’re undertaking right now aims to reduce some of the wear and tear that we’ve had after we’ve had tens of thousands of animals through our spaces, and we also have some really important touches that we’re adding for animal welfare,” said Sunley.

Sunley said one of the most exciting things the society is working on is the new kitten gallery, a proper place for their young kittens to grow.

“One of the really exciting parts of this project is an expansion to be able to create a really tranquil and specialized place to house our youngest of the feline friends that come through our shelter,” she said.

Sunley said the renovations will benefit kittens by giving them a separate space away from older cats.

“It’s really important that cats have a really quiet space to continue to grow — one that’s also away from other cats because kittens’ immune systems are still developing. So, very important that we’re able to keep them healthy and calm while they’re with us,” she said.

In order to hit the donation goal, more than $400,000 is required. Renovations are expected to be finished by the end of October.

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