The Trenton Times published the following article on October 19, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Renovations make Trenton Animal Shelter more welcoming place

By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton 
on October 19, 2013 at 6:30 AM, updated October 19, 2013 at 6:31 AM

Dixie, a terrier and dachshund mix, frantically chases after George, a scruffy terrier mix, who has the coveted squeaky ball. Although George and Dixie spend most of their day inside a crate at the Trenton Humane Law Enforcement and Animal Services Facility, commonly known as the Trenton Animal Shelter, they get to run around inside a new, fenced-off dog run area behind the building.

“It helps them to burn off some energy,” said Elaine Thaxton, the shelter manager.

The dog run is one of many improvements that have been made to the shelter in the last year, thanks to an infusion of funds allocated to the shelter.

Thaxton remembers how the electricity at the shelter was so unreliable, she would turn on one light and another would blow out.

“I had to buy one of those lights that you use to do work on your car for the vet,” Thaxton said. She said the veterinarian, who spends 10 hours a week at the Escher Street shelter, didn’t have enough light for surgeries.

The building also got a new coat of paint, inside and out. The bright yellow exterior replaces the color that Thaxton could only describe as “dirty,” and she and the volunteers planted flowers out front and put up an American flag.

“Now we really feel official,” she said.