A little panic was showing through Megan McLean’s smile on Thursday. There was a lot of unpacking to do before the new $2.2 million Park County Animal Shelter opened. As director, she was definitely feeling the pressure.

The dogs and cats have all been moved to the beautiful new facility. Most are in a playful mood. Instead of one big room filled with as many as 60 cats, felines now have roomy apartments for four with big picture windows and “catios” if they want to step outside for some fresh air. For those who need more solitude, there are two-room condos with private privies.

The dogs also have much better facilities, but calling the patios “puppios” doesn’t sound quite as cute. The canines have a large new playground and, even if they don’t want company, they have room to run or work a chew toy.

There are also rooms for prospective adopters to get acquainted with future family members in private. There are triage areas and private rooms for veterinarian services. There’s even added room for employees.

“Basically, our kitchen, laundry room and break room used to be one and the same,” McLean said.

Simply having a food prep room has been a huge change for good, she said. When dogs hear their food being prepped, and they see other dogs getting fed, it increases their anxiety and stress. Now the food is prepared, placed on a cart and all the animals get fed at the same time. 

“It just is better for their mental health,” McLean said.

It’s been a tough choice for the staff — between laboring to organize the offices and snuggles with the furry friends. But boxes of supplies, artwork and equipment were calling for immediate attention as adoptions for those with applications in the works resumed Monday. The shelter won’t fully open its doors to the public until an April 24 grand opening, but adoptions can start for those with paperwork and appointments.

The new facility is three times larger than the former space and offers an improved oasis for stranded pets. It was all paid for by donors, McLean noted, while praising their commitment to the project.

“We have some incredibly generous donors,” she said, adding, “It’s pretty humbling. And, you know, we’re all very grateful.”

McLean inherited the project when she landed the job as the shelter’s director in the spring of 2020. She wasn’t unpacked from her move to Cody from Billings when the shelter was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite the health orders, animals kept coming in. The shelter moved to an appointments-only policy and has been operating in that manner since. Until the grand opening, the next few weeks is not the time to drop in for a visit or tour, McLean said.

But that will all change very soon, and highlights what may be one of the most exciting aspects of the new facility: They have room to further engage the community.

“We’re not just a place to house lost and transitioning animals. We’re also a facility that really wants to serve our community,” McLean said.

The shelter is solidifying plans for community classes aimed at improving life for pets and humans alike. McLean also hopes to help those unable to afford vet care or food, allowing folks in temporary financial distress to keep their beloved animals.

“We now have the space to more efficiently cater to the philosophy of welcoming the community into the work that we do,” she said.

Studies show communities that uplift pet owners and pets are good for the economy and have improved social capital.

“It’s just better for their communities overall,” McLean said. “Park County is really a pet-loving community. And we just want to continue to help drive that forward.”

The inventory of dogs and cats up for adoption has been falling in the U.S. as having a pet has become more popular during the pandemic, according to PetPoint, a company that keeps stats on adoptions and fostering efforts. Between March and September 2020, the number of foster pets in U.S. homes increased by 8% as well, it reported. McLean hopes area residents will think about adopting, especially before kitten and puppy seasons begin. The number of animals sheltered could soon double due to unwanted litters, she said.

As with any new home, there are challenges to overcome. The first challenge will be fixing some fences. A couple of the smarter dogs quickly realized they could dig their way into other pens. But there’s extra money thanks to a donation of furniture. 

“Since we didn’t have to spend a lot of money on office furniture, we’ve been able to address things that have come up since we moved in,” McLean said.

Details for the grand opening are still being arranged, but Park County Animal Shelter leaders hope to have food trucks and tours ready to show off the shelter on Saturday, April 24.