In the process of moving into a new 12,544-square-foot shelter, administrators for Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation have barely time enough to catch their breath.

The new shelter is three times the size of WAIF’s previous main shelter. It affords not only more breathing room, but also a new state-of-the-art ventilation system.

WITH ITS grand opening planned Sunday for organization donors, WAIF didn’t receive its occupancy permit until Tuesday, Sept. 1.

“We are rapidly getting things moved over,” said Cinnamon O’Brien, development and communications manager during an interview Thursday.

“We’re trying to get the infrastructure in place.”

THE NEW shelter sits on nearly 10 acres of land with 6 acres of dog walking trails. It’s located off of State Highway 20 just south of Coupeville, not far from its previous location.

The new facility includes space for amenities the organization never had before, including a designated spay/neuter clinic, more kennels, visitation rooms, social rooms, outdoor dog runs, a pet food kitchen and a staff break room.

“This new shelter is really much more social for the animals,” said Claire Creighton, development director.

“And people,” added Charles Vreeland, executive director.

WITH TWO wings of dog kennels, the new shelter can house 48 dogs in 32 kennels. Each wing features outdoor social areas where dogs can be outside in the grass with other dogs.

There are also three cat cage rooms and four roaming rooms.

The new facility can house 150 cats.

Visitation rooms for both dogs and cats allow potential adopters and adoptees get acquainted.

WHERE WAIF has grown in the number of animals it can accommodate, it has the infrastructure to support that growth.

The facility features individual septic tanks for each dog wing in addition to one for the main shelter space.

It has a ventilation system that circulates six times an hour rather than once an hour, which helps lessen the spread of disease and illness, O’Brien said.

THE NEW facility cost more than anticipated, topping $4.4 million.

“There’s been these chunks of unexpected costs,” Creighton said. “But I’d say the campaign is in its final stages.”

The thing to remember is it was a completely undeveloped piece of property, O’Brien said. “We built our own well, we had to bring in power and Internet.”

“It’s like a little city.” Vreeland said.

While costs are greater than expected, so is the community response to the project.

THE FIRST recorded donation for WAIF’s new shelter capital campaign was in 1998.

Creighton was hired four years ago. Her position, specifically directed at fundraising, was funded by a donor.

When she started, Creighton said there was about $350,000 raised.

Creighton helped bring it to nearly $4 million.

“I think the excitement really built up,” Creighton said.

“PEOPLE ARE relieved all this effort finally paid off,” O’Brien said.

That $4 million is a combination of individual donations as well as some grants.

Vreeland estimates that of the nearly $4.4 million raised, about $200,000 came from grants.

And even those grants are community based, coming from local groups and businesses.

“The island has been incredibly supportive of this,” Creighton said.

WAIF NEEDS about an additional $165,000 to be fully funded.

There are still fundraising opportunities to get those final costs covered including naming opportunities throughout the new shelter.

Tag the Wall, which O’Brien says has been very successful, costs $50.

“People are eager to have a name in the new shelter,” she said.

More than 600 tags were purchased.

ON SUNDAY, WAIF will host a grand opening celebration specifically for “key donors” who gave $1,000 or more to the shelter campaign.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests will get to tour the new facility and witness the unveiling of the shelter’s new name.

A donor paid for the naming rights of the new building, which is being closely guarded by WAIF administrators.

Then from 1-4 p.m. an additional 600 donors are invited to tour the facility.

THIS PAST Thursday, most of the rooms at the new facility were empty, but administrators said they anticipated getting some of the cats moved in by Friday afternoon, with more animals moving in on Saturday.

Most of the move, however, is anticipated to take place next week.

The shelter will open for general operations at its new location Thursday, Sept. 10.

From Wednesday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Sept. 20, the shelter will hold an open house for the general public.