Potomac — “After so many years of waiting, the construction of the new Montgomery County Animal Services Center is on schedule with completion set for delivery in the fall of 2013,” said Bruce Garnant, senior project manager for Coakley Williams Construction. “We are just completing the pouring of the foundation now and starting the steel structure. The heat has made it difficult — but we are working through it.”

The facility is being built at the northwest corner of Muncaster Mill Road and Airpark Drive in Gaithersburg.

No one is looking forward to the new Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center more than Allan S. Cohen of Potomac, chairman of the board of directors of mcpaw (Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being — a 501(c)3 organization.) “Our county really needs this new center for the well-being of our animals. Our current shelter is extremely old and does not have the capacity or facilities needed to address today’s growing demands of pets and animals in the county.”

Mcpaw was founded at the request of County Executive Isaiah Leggett working closely with the Montgomery County Council. The county has turned to mcpaw as a partner for supportive funding for the facility to house and care for homeless animals while they await “furever” homes. The new facility will also provide animal care services such as a veterinary clinic for spay/neuter services and other veterinary needs of the shelter and county animals.

MCPAW has recently launched a fundraising campaign and will be hosting events in August as well as all through the fall. Potomac Pizza will be the site of the first event on Aug. 30. From 4-9 p.m., Potomac Pizza will donate 20 percent of the amount of the bill to mcpaw — as long as the customers mention mcpaw to their server.

One of the primary fund-raising events is the sale of brick pavers that will be displayed within the entrance plaza of the new adoption center. These pavers can be engraved with a tribute to a beloved pet, a friend, or with a corporate logo and name.

Mcpaw will also honor and recognize individuals who make significant

contributions to the new center by providing naming opportunities for wings, clinics or other areas of the center. Some of these naming rights areas include the canine kennel wing, the vet clinic, the horse and small farm animal barn, kitten adoption room, intake lobby and the reflection garden. One can also memorialize a loved one or pet by placing a name or graphic on an outdoor bench or on the Patron Wall.

A RFP for the management contract for the new facility will be put out for competitive bid in the very near future. “No matter how state-of-the-art the new facility is, an efficient professional operator is critical to the successful daily operations of this center and we will need a force of volunteers to help staff the new center to ensure exemplary care to the animals in residence, ” said Cohen.

Mcpaw encourages Montgomery County residents to learn more about the new facility and to consider contributing and get involved. Many more pets can be saved and can find loving homes. For more information, contact: www.mcpaw.org or Cohen at 240-462-5000.

Donation checks can be made on line at www.mcpaw.org, or mailed to 9613 Eldwick Way, Potomac MD 20854. Donations are tax deductible as allowable by law.