A ceremony to celebrate the opening of a puppy pavilion and surgical unit at the Dawson County Humane Society is set for Sunday.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting will be held at 2 p.m. when the buildings will be dedicated “to some of our strongest supporters,” said shelter volunteer Virginia Matteson.

The event will feature tours of the facility and also give the public an opportunity to meet the shelter’s new director, Nadine Brabeau, who joined the staff last week.

With more than a decade of animal care experience, Brabeau comes to the shelter “with a broad based background and skill set we need,” according to society president Carolyn Bowen.

“We are extremely fortunate to have attracted Nadine to this position at a time when we are expanding our role in the community with additional services and the opening of our surgical suite,” Bowen said.

Matteson said increased public support enabled the group “to meet both of these important construction goals.” 

“The DCHS Board of Directors is constantly trying to find creative ways to provide a better life  for the abandoned  animals of Dawson County,” she said. “The completion of these two buildings will enhance the quality of lives for our animals and create another revenue source by  helping  replenish our coffers while increasing the number of animals we rescue.”

Opening the surgical suite allows shelter volunteer veterinarians to perform spay and neuter procedures on site.

“We will save time and money, and the animals will experience less stress,” Matteson said. 

She said the group anticipates offering spay and neuter services to regional animal rescue organizations, which could also create a revenue stream for the shelter.

The puppy pavilion will also be an asset to the organization and to the county, Matteson said.

“Having puppies away from the adult dogs will have huge benefits for disease control among the puppies,” she said.

Moving the puppies out of the main building provides additional space for the shelter’s growing cat and kitten needs.  

The shelter is located at 633 Martin Road, next to Rock Creek Park in Dawsonville.