PARADISE — The groundbreaking event for Paradise’s new animal shelter expansion brought out a crowd of volunteers and stakeholders, along with some wagging tails. In 2015, the Butte County Grand Jury determined that the Paradise Animal Shelter was inadequate in holding the number of critters it had. Cats and dogs live in the same general area, and space is limited.
Shelter staff, volunteers and community members came together to form a plan to expand the shelter to allow more room for future pets and additional facilities. Art Collier, a volunteer with the Paradise Animal Shelter Helpers and retired veterinarian who worked in Paradise for 35 years, said there is considerable work that needs to be done to raise the standard for the shelter. “The main thing is that we have cats and dogs basically in the shelter together,” Collier said.
“They’re not separated. Sick animals aren’t separated by quarantine areas. THe staff is compressed into a tiny, little room, and that’s where people have to go in to get adoptions and so forth.
” Unfortunately, planning was hindered by the Camp Fire in 2018 and briefly pushed aside in the wake of the disaster. Collier said plans reignited in 2022 when fundraisers were launched to build the expansion. “At that point, we had $250,000,” Collier said.
“We went before the Town Council with a floor plan that had been put together by an architectural firm, and they wanted it refined and have plans fully developed.” Initial bids .