 After opening the doors to the human side of Animal Services in Part One—where compassion, teamwork, and community connection shape every day at the shelter—it’s time to look ahead to the physical future of that work. The current facility has served its purpose well beyond its years, but as the city continues to grow, so too must the space that supports its animals and the people who care for them. In this next chapter, we’ll explore the plans, challenges, and community efforts behind the construction of St. Thomas’s new animal shelter—a long-awaited project built on the same heart and dedication that drive the team inside it. Construction Plans and Project Details The official groundbreaking for the new St. Thomas Animal Shelter took place on March 26, 2025 — a day many in the community had been waiting for. The goal is to complete the build by the end of December, so that 2026 begins with a new home for local animals in need. Planning the facility has been a labour of love — and a lesson in patience. “We wanted to avoid any potential design flaws that could cause problems down the road,” explains Laura. “So last spring, Mike and I toured several shelters across Southwestern Ontario. Many of these organizations had just completed or were in the middle of their own construction projects, and they were generous in sharing what worked — and what didn’t.” Those site visits inspired several key adjustments before final blueprints were approved, ensuring that the St. Thomas facility will be both efficient and humane in every detail. Funding, of course, was another challenge. The rising cost of construction has been a significant hurdle, but years of advocacy and the community’s deep commitment to animal welfare made all the difference. “We’ve been incredibly fortunate to receive several large donations,” Laura says. “Every fundraiser, every contribution has brought us closer to the finish line. This truly is a victory shared by the whole community.” Click here to make a donation today.
Community Involvement The shelter’s success has always relied on community support, and that remains true today. Attending fundraisers, following the shelter’s updates on Facebook, and helping spread the word online all make a real impact. Volunteer help is also essential. The team is especially seeking people experienced with large-breed dogs, as many of the shelter’s canine guests need training, walking, and patient socialization. “Volunteer dog trainers are a game-changer,” Mike says. When it comes to donations, the biggest ongoing need is towels and linens. These items see constant use — and constant wear. Enrichment toys are also always welcome: sturdy chew toys for dogs and scratching posts for cats. You can also support the shelter directly through their Amazon Wish List  Volunteer and Fostering Programs The current shelter, built decades ago, is simply too small to meet the needs of a growing city. With limited space, the team often relies on partnerships with local rescues to respond quickly to emergencies. When animals require special attention — such as medical care or a quiet environment away from larger dogs — foster homes become essential. “We don’t manage foster homes directly,” explains Laura, “but we work closely with fantastic local rescues like Animal Aide, Myrtle Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, and Helping Paws. They help give our most vulnerable animals the time and care they need.” Another important initiative is the community cat program, which focuses on feral cats — the truly wild ones born and raised outdoors without human contact. Volunteers humanely trap these cats, spay or neuter them, provide vaccinations, and then return them to their territories once they’ve recovered. A small “tipped” ear marks them as treated, helping volunteers identify them in the future. Those interested in volunteering with the shelter can submit an application.  Looking Ahead The new shelter isn’t just a building — it’s a foundation for the next decade of animal welfare in St. Thomas. With expanded space and improved facilities, the team will finally be able to accommodate special cases, such as whelping mothers, and better separate species to avoid cross-contamination risks. “Our work has grown beyond just cats and dogs,” Mike says. “We’re now responding to more wildlife calls — raccoons, skunks, even injured turtles crossing roads during nesting season. The new shelter will allow us to do this safely and effectively.” Long-term goals also include exploring space to temporarily house small pets like rabbits, hamsters, and rats — an important step in supporting all members of the community who find themselves needing help. As St. Thomas continues to grow, so too does the city’s heart for its animals. The new shelter stands as a testament to what’s possible when compassion, collaboration, and community come together — brick by brick, paw by paw.
As a final note, we want to share the story of Black Panther — the cat, not the Marvel hero. It's a sad story, but one that connected the three people in a way that still resonates today.
A few days later, we learned the cat's name was Black Panther — and that while he belonged to someone else, he was very loved by Sarah Noble, a fellow City employee at St. Thomas Economic Development. When we found out Sarah and her husband, Parker, were coming to identify him, Mike and I did everything we could to give them a small measure of comfort. We cleaned him gently, placed him on a blanket as if he were peacefully sleeping, and made an ink paw print for them as a keepsake. That simple act became a ritual for us: whenever a pet passes at the shelter, we play Fleetwood Mac, say a small prayer, and create a paw print for the owner or our shelter's wall of honour. When Sarah and Parker arrived, the four of us shared a moment that was heavy with sadness but filled with care — the kind of moment that forges something lasting. From that day on, our professional partnership deepened into a genuine friendship. As touching as this story is, it carries an important reminder: please, keep your cats indoors. We see far too many hit by cars each year, and it's heartbreaking for everyone involved.
It was a Saturday evening, which meant local vet clinics were closed. The nearest open animal hospital was the Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Waterloo—an hour and a half away. So, the poor guy went for a ride with me. The staff there were terrific. They examined him quickly and, with compassion, made the decision to end his suffering. I stayed with him and held him gently as he passed. When neighbours who kept an eye out for this neighbourhood cat hadn't seen him for a few days, they reached out with concern. They were clearly devastated to learn he had passed. Laura and I made an ink paw print as a keepsake to honour this brave boy and added another to our shelter's wall of remembrance for the animals we couldn't save. For anyone who's read this far, I wish I could say Black Panther's story was unique—but it isn't. Too many cats are hit by cars each year. Many well-meaning owners still believe it's fine to let their cats roam, but it so often ends in tragedy. It's something our team never truly gets used to. Please, keep your cats indoors, and make sure your pets—cats and dogs alike—are microchipped so we can reach you in an emergency. And don't forget to spay and neuter. It's one of the simplest ways to protect the animals we love.
Sarah's Version: I need to provide the backstory for this one because it starts with an entirely different cat. It's difficult to relive, but I am forever grateful to Laura and Mike for the care and compassion they poured into this moment of my life. It's one of the reasons I am so thankful that my job allows me to advocate for and support the work of St. Thomas Animal Services and fundraising efforts for the new shelter. In March of 2021, a small skittish tabby cat joined me in our backyard. I spent weeks assuming she was a stray, trying to make friends with her to catch her and have her checked out. If she was indeed a stray, I planned to keep her—I had felt that heart tug to her immediately. This was supposed to be my cat. The cat distribution system at work! Not much later, I learned she belonged to a neighbour and was a roamer. While I am a big fan of keeping cats inside for a variety of reasons, my husband and I understood that her family had young kids and dogs, and she often escaped. But we bought her a collar, offered her a safe place when she couldn't get back into her own home during a storm. We were quickly very attached to this cat. She wasn't spayed, got pregnant later that spring, and gave birth to five kittens. She was still a kitten herself, and once those babies were weaned, she was back to her escape plans regularly. She had no interest in being a parent! A few times, we caught her leaving a little black kitten in our backyard. He had clearly followed her, but she had big cat things to do, and we had apparently become her daycare provider. Spoiler: We fell in love with him, too. When it came time for him to be neutered, the owners had COVID and couldn't take him to the appointment. I was away. My husband, Parker, took him, and while our neighbours took care of their human kids, Parker took care of Black Panther. Our resident cats decided he was ok. A few years passed, and these two cats were a part of our family while also belonging to someone else. We loved them like they were ours, but it was always a worry when we wouldn't see them for a few days at a time, always hoping that they'd just given up on being outside and were safe and warm at their own house. After a particularly long stretch without seeing Black Panther, I reached out to the neighbour, and she hadn't seen him in a few days either. It wasn't the first time he had disappeared - but it felt different. We started calling the shelters, and I spoke with Laura. I knew immediately, without needing to see him, but Parker and I needed to bring Black Panther home. While the tragedy of loss was enough, the most significant hurt is that we were weeks away from Black Panther becoming ours. The neighbours were moving, and they decided the two cats were likely to keep escaping. They would likely also try to return to their current neighbourhood. They asked if we would be willing to keep them when they moved. We had readily agreed. We were devastated to be so close to breaking some escape habits, only to lose this special, incredible boy who was already so deeply in our hearts. We were so grateful to Laura and Mike for their compassion and evident heart for Black Panther. It was clear that, even in immense pain, his resilience and personality were evident. He was one of the best cats I have ever had the pleasure to know. After speaking with his current owners, we opted to claim him and bring him home as part of our family. Laura made excellent recommendations to help us with the process. While it was heartbreaking, it was comforting to know that such wonderful people had cared for and stayed with Black Panther in our place during the most challenging moments. The way their care was evident in how they treated Black Panther was comforting. Even in our grief, we could see just how much City Animal Services and these employees needed a new facility, and this experience helped bring the three of us together in a way that has made an impact. Black Panther's legacy, if you will. His mom no longer escapes, but does get supervised backyard time on a leash. She watches birds on YouTube.
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