After a concerted effort by the Flathead County Animal Shelter, and with generous donations from the community, work has begun on renovating the dog kennels.

Kennel cough and other infectious diseases are problems for most animal shelters, and the county shelter is no exception. A way was needed to help prevent the spread of disease.

Plans were drawn up months ago to create guillotine doors that would allow dogs to go outside through an insulated opening in the kennel wall without the possibility of spreading illness to other dogs.

Cliff Bennett, director of the shelter, said the work was progressing quickly.

“We are in the process of installing doors,” he said. “Flathead Industries is doing the work for us, they are using it as a training exercise of sorts. Our ‘dog patios’ should be done pretty soon.”

Cindie Jobe, a volunteer at the shelter and a Flathead Shelter Friends board member, said the lives of the dogs in the 13-year old shelter would be improved with the upgrades.

“These renovations will allow the shelter dogs to have approximately double the space in their kennels,” she wrote in an email, “and will also allow the dogs to be outside, getting fresh air, while living in the shelter awaiting adoption.”

A community fundraising request in September raised $30,000 in just a few weeks, partially thanks to a local philanthropist who gave $10,000.

The total improvements were estimated at $43,714, but at least one component was badly misjudged and the shelter’s fundraising continues.

The central heating and air conditioning system that will clean the shelter’s air of dander and disease was underestimated by a considerable margin. The shelter will roll over some money toward the purchase of that system, but $37,000 would be needed to complete the project.

The shelter had been using large floor fans to keep air circulating, but that can spread disease quickly among the animals.

Jobe said that any Flathead residents looking for a good cause to donate to could write a check to Flathead Shelter Friends, P.O. Box 1035, Kalispell MT 59903 or call 755-0921 for more information.

Flathead Shelter Friends is a nonprofit group that works with the Flathead Animal Shelter.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.