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Burlington Animal Shelter Re-Opens

The Burlington Animal Shelter is up and running again at a temporary location.

An expansion and renovation of the facility is scheduled to get underway in a couple of weeks.

Des Moines County Humane Society Co-President Susan Denk says the shelter is slated to nearly double in size.

She says the most important improvement will be a new ventilation system that separates between sick animals, health animals and humans.

The shelter had to be cleared out in anticipation of the upcoming construction.

The Humane Society is now operating out of the former National Guard Armory.  The city recently acquired the facility near the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport.

Denk says the temporary move will not affect the work of the organization as adoptions are still be coordinated even at the new locations.

She says the humane society needs small swimming pools to help keep the animals cool during the current heat wave.

Certain items like blankets are not being accepted at this time due to storage limits at the armory.

Denk hopes the Humane Society will be able to move back into the Burlington Animal Shelter within the next 4-5 months.

The city is scheduled to cover about half of the costs of the project.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.