Islip receives nearly $1M in state grants for new animal shelter

The Town of Islip received nearly $1 million in state grants to help build a new animal shelter, lawmakers announced Friday.

The new 19,000-square-foot shelter will replace the town’s existing 54-year-old facility in Bay Shore. Town officials said they expect to break ground on the effort this spring at a site adjacent to the town’s Department of Public Works facility in Central Islip.

The project is projected to be complete by the end of 2019.

“We’ve worked diligently for this funding opportunity which will allow for the better care of companion shelter animals,” Sen. Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore) said in a statement. “After working with the Town of Islip for so many years on animal rights and safety, and seeing their current facility in need of major improvements, it is gratifying to see these funds make their way to support the Town’s efforts.”

Boyle’s office secured the first grant for $500,000 through the New York State and Municipal Facilities Program Capital Funding.

A second grant for $498,200 came from a newly created Companion Animal Capital Fund, part of a larger, $5 million effort Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced last October to help animal shelters across the state upgrade their facilities and provide better care to animals.

The fund provides competitive matching grants to offset the costs of capital projects, and the money can be used to construct, renovate or acquire buildings where shelter animals are housed and cared for.

The total cost of the animal shelter will be $5.5 million. The town board approved a $4.6 million bond for the project in late 2017.

“It is very reassuring that the animals will receive quality care in a nurturing, state-of-the-art environment, until they find their forever home,” Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter said in a statement.