New AC units at Columbus Co. animal shelter almost ready

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) – The animals of the Columbus County Animal Shelter will be getting their Christmas a few days early .

According to Shelter Manager Joey Prince, the new air conditioning project is scheduled to be finished by Wednesday.

The $45,000 project was originally scheduled to be completed in October, but that was delayed by Hurricane Mathew. Work finally began on the new system in November.

The project has been in the works for a while. In September, County Commissioners accepted the bid to upgrade the air conditioning system.

Three new units have been installed to ensure that temperatures within the shelter remain below the state mandated 85 degrees, set by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

The system is expected to be fully operational Wednesday night.

Due to the final electrical component of the project, power will be off at the shelter most of Wednesday. The shelter will be closed on that day until power is fully restored. It is expected to take most of the day.

Prince says in a last ditch effort to be on Santa’s nice list, shelter workers will arrive at 4;00 a.m. before the electrical service is cut to clean the shelter and give medicine.