Operation Kindness breaks ground on new wing

Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter for dogs and cats in Carrollton that every other week provides “Pet Of the Week” pets for Dallas Voice, recently broke ground on a new wing that will provide shelter space for large-breed dogs, according to this report by the Carrollton Leader.

Operation Kindness development director Nikki Walker said the expansion is being paid for with a $250,000 donation by Dallasites Norma and Jack Carney. The couple are former Operation Kindness volunteers who adopted their large-breed dog Bear there in 2004. The new wing will be named “Bear’s Den” in honor of the Carneys’ pet. The donation allowed the shelter to add much-needed space; it’s an expansion Operation Kindness had been needing and planning to do for some time but did not have the money for.

“Bear’s Den” will be an indoor shelter facility built next to the existing Operation Kindness facility at 3201 Earhart Drive, and the two facilities will be connected by a breezeway. The new wing, designed to reduce noise and disease, will have air conditioning and will feature 30 “state of the art” kennels. There will also be large garage-style doors on the side of the building that can be opened when the weather is nice to give the dogs plenty of fresh air, Walker said.

The expansion, she added, will double the space available for large dogs.

Construction is scheduled to begin in two weeks, and Operation Kindness officials hope to have the new wing open sometime in November.