Satara, a cattle dog mix is a delightful parti-colored girl just waiting for a new home at the newly opened humane society center in East Montpelier is being shown by Mary Taylor, executive director of the new center. Photo by Rob Will, The Northfield News Sociable kitties were able to move around in their new spacious cat rooms replete with climbing towers while doggies each have their own beds and toys in the new dog wing of the humane society center which opened to accolates in East Montpelier last week.

The newly renovated building offers a far better home for animals than the small old center did and marks a new direction for group said Colleen Thomas, a board member.

After more than 30 years working out of a small, outdated facility in Barre, the Central Vermont Humane Society today opens its doors at the newly renovated, expansive site in East Montpelier. The move marks not only an upgrade in facilities, but a new direction for the organization.

“This move is something people have been talking about – dreaming about – for decades. The old building was simply too small and did not allow us to meet the demands of providing quality care and shelter for the animals we serve,” said Ms. Thomas. “The new facility will allow us to provide quality health care and enrichment to the animals that pass through our doors. Moreover, we will now have the room to grow the programs that bring animals and people together – training and behavior classes here in the building and humane education and outreach in the communities we serve.”

The new 8 acre site, formerly Ruby’s Run boarding kennels, was purchased by CVHS in December 2008 and took a year to renovate and repurpose as an animal shelter. Changes include the addition of a brand new cat wing, fully remodeled dog kennels, installation of a new HVAC system, and remodeling of offices and public meeting rooms.

“Sometimes you need to take bold steps forward and have faith that your community will be right there behind you to help,” said Mary Taylor, Executive Director of CVHS. “We took that step and ever since, the outpouring of community support has been overwhelming.”

Hundreds of volunteer hours have been logged in the last weeks leading up to the move. Volunteers did everything from cleaning up construction debris to painting the walls to building custom furniture and climbing trees for the cat rooms.

“We were extremely fortunate to be in a position to make this purchase when the opportunity presented itself. Now comes the hard part of paying for it all,” added Thomas, who chairs the three-year fundraising campaign CVHS is undertaking to help pay for the move. “Normally you do the capital campaign before you buy. We didn’t have that luxury. What we did have was faith that if we built it, the donations would follow. We’re starting to see that happen, but we have a long way to go.”

A formal public grand opening celebration is planned for April 10 and CVHS’s Annual Walk for Animals will be held at the new location June 5, both providing the public an opportunity to tour the new facilities and learn about new programs being developed.

When asked how the move has changed the organization’s outlook, Taylor remarked, “There’s a lot to get excited about with this organization today. We’re no longer just that place of last resort; we’re becoming a place of first resource for people and animals alike. Like the colors in the new kennels and cat rooms, CVHS’s future is bright!”

Those interested in making a donation to the “Home, Health and Hope”

Combined Campaign to help cover the costs of building renovations, defray increased operating expenses of the new larger facility and begin to rebuild CVHS’s endowment can contact campaign chair Colleen Thomas at

802-496-9807 or email colleen@cvhumane.com. Supporters can also send donations directly to CVHS at PO Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601.