BELCHERTOWN — Members of the public will be able to tour the town’s new animal control facility during an open house with light refreshments from 12-4 p.m. on Sunday.

The facility, located at 165 George Hannum Road, has eight dog kennels, eight cat condos, a screened-in “catio” and a fenced-in outdoor play area. Its construction was funded with $90,000 from the town and additional money raised by the Belchertown Animal Relief Committee, said BARC treasurer Cathy Maclutsky.

BARC, a nonprofit, was created in January 2015 to help bring a new animal control facility to fruition, and Maclutsky said it has raised $70,000 of the $75,000 goal.

“Everyone knew what our goal was,” Maclutsky said. “We just didn’t know it would be this quick.”

Belchertown’s old animal control facility was almost shut down by the state, Maclutsky said, because it lacked running water, heat or air conditioning. It was intended to accommodate dogs, but sometimes cats stayed there too, which Maclutsky said was stressful for the animals.

The new facility separates cats and dogs and features a quarantine room for sick animals. Maclutsky said it can also accommodate animals other than dogs and cats.

Lost or stray animals brought to the facility become town property subject to adoption if they’re not claimed in seven days.

Maclutsky said there are two dogs, eight kittens and five cats at the facility now, all of which are up for adoption. Anyone interested in taking a new pet home should begin the process by completing the application form found on Belchertown’s website.

Though the facility’s formal opening will be on Sunday, animals were moved into the building in December, so they would have heat for the winter, even as final details, such as food and toy organization, were still being ironed out.

Maclutsky said the new building will also take in animals from surrounding areas at no charge, if there is no where else for them to go.

“We have a great facility here to help other communities,” Maclutsky said.

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