OLEAN — The greater Olean area has been awarded more than three-quarters of a million dollars in grants from New York state to help care for lost or stray dogs and cats.

The town of Olean has been awarded a $500,000 grant to build a new 10-bay dog kennel that will serve the towns of Olean, Allegany and Hinsdale as well as the city of Olean and the village of Allegany.

Meanwhile, the SPCA in Cattaraugus County has been awarded a $237,164 grant for improvements at its shelter on Route 16 North in the town of Olean.

The planned kennel building in the town will provide a much-needed upgrade to the region’s animal control services, offering safe, modern and humane space for the care of lost or stray dogs. The new kennel building will be located adjacent to the Olean Town Hall on Route 16N and is meant to support shared services across municipal boundaries.

“This grant is a tremendous win for our communities,” said Olean Town Supervisor Annette Parker. “By working together, we can ensure better outcomes for both animals and residents while maximizing the impact of state funding.”

Olean-area animal-control recovering from injuries in dog attack

Cindy Nupp, the animal-control officer for Olean and the surrounding area, faces a “long and…

Both the town’s grant and the grant benefiting the SPCA were secured through the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund, which supports the improvement and construction of animal shelters in New York.

The 10-bay kennel will feature secure, climate-controlled spaces for dogs, along with designated feeding and exercise areas. The shared facility aims to streamline operations, improve care standards and increase the chances of reuniting pets with their owners.

Construction is expected to begin later this year, with completion anticipated in 2026.

“This is a great example of inter-municipal cooperation to meet a critical need,” said dog control officer Cindy Nupp, who serves each of the municipalities that will share access, in a statement. “We’re grateful for the state’s support and excited to move this project forward.”

Currently, the town of Olean uses a shed behind the town hall to hold stray animals that have been secured by Nupp. Officials acknowledge the facility, with only three kennels, does not offer the best environment for holding animals for longer than a day or two.

Parker said the current facility, recently, held as many as eight dogs, while as of Thursday four were being cared for at the site. She said her town and the other municipalities served by Nupp have agreements to work with the SPCA of Cattaraugus County to care for dogs that aren’t claimed by owners after just a few days, but the SPCA shelter is often overfilled in its own right.

City of Olean Mayor William Aiello said the new kennel project “is a very positive development for our communities” and he credited Parker for her efforts in securing the grant.

“It’s going to provide a permanent and safe place for the animals … and it’s going to be a safer place to work in for the animal control officer,” he said. “We’re very thankful that the town of Olean will host this shared facility, which is really going to benefit all of the communities in the area.”

Allegany Town Supervisor Chris McPherson agreed that the new kennel facility is sorely needed, and he points to it as an example of municipal cooperation in the area.

“It’s really a good thing for our communities,” he said, noting the municipalities will save on fees paid for longer-term care of animals by the SPCA.

Officials indicated that the municipalities will contribute to utilities associated with maintaining the kennel facility.

SPCA IN CATTARAUGUS COUNTY

The SPCA’s $237,163.99 grant will be used to purchase a power washer, a vacuum, two washer and dryer systems, a dishwasher and an auto generator for the shelter.

Beginning in 2017, the CACF was the first state program in the nation to fund capital projects for animal shelters with a total of more than $38 million going to shelters around the state since then. This is the second time that the SPCA in Cattaraugus County has been a beneficiary of this program.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office reported a total of $10.4 million has been awarded to 30 animal care organizations across the state through the seventh round of the Companion Animal Capital Fund.

“Animal shelters and humane societies play an enormous role in keeping companion animals safe and well cared for while they await their new families and forever home,” the governor stated. “This funding is making a real difference, helping to better equip these vital facilities with the tools they need to improve the quality of care for animals.”