Berkley Approves Animal Shelter on 11 Mile Road

Followed by tears and applause, but not without opposition, the Berkley City Council this week approved a special land-use request that will allow New Beginnings Animal Rescue establish a shelter on 11 Mile Road.

The shelter will provide space for adoptable cats and dogs, as well as supplies for the nonprofit organization's Pet Food Pantry program, which assists owners who otherwise may have to surrender their animals. New Beginnings Animal Rescue also will place animals, particularly dogs, with foster families while they await adoption. The group is volunteer-based and supported by donations.

"I just want to thank you for giving us an opportunity to make Berkley our home," New Beginnings President Lisa Hill told the council Monday night at .

New Beginnings Animal Rescue has a fourfold mission, Hill said:

• To take in animals surrendered by their former owners.
• To place pets into caring homes.
• To administer the Pet Food Pantry program, which collects, warehouses and distributes food for animals whose owners no longer can afford it. The program began in December and already has helped hundreds of people and pets, Hill said, adding that Berkley receives the third-most assistance of all the southeast Oakland County communities the program serves. "There's no better place for an animal" than with its family, Hill said.
• To provide free educational programs for the community.

But resident John Courtney, who said he spoke at the council meeting Monday on behalf of himself and several neighbors, was not convinced the shelter is a good fit for the area.

Courtney expressed concern that by occupying the currently vacant space, the nonprofit shelter would cost the city tax revenue. Instead, he suggested, land near would be a better location for the facility.

Parking at the shelter's location, 3060 11 Mile Rd., also looks like it will be a problem, Courtney said. He also said Oakland County already has enough rescue facilities.

Planning Commission Chairman Dave Barnett said there are five existing parking spaces and that if the neighboring business owner chose to build to the property line, "(visitors to the shelter still) would be able to manipulate in and out of there." However, it may take some adjusting, he said.

"We were concerned about the number of animals that would be housed within the facility, proximity to the residents and how animals would be housed," Barnett said.

However, he said, the nine commissioners were satisfied with the group's plans and added that the dog kennels will be 10-feet square, providing enough room for the animals to move.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the request, but with a number of conditions attached, including that the facility's Dumpster must be serviced twice weekly and that the shelter may house no more than seven dogs at a time — and house only animals that are allowed as pets in Berkley.

Karen Koerber, president and owner of , stepped to the microphone to speak in favor of New Beginnings Animal Rescue, which holds its signature fundraiser at her business each year.

"I just want to put my two cents in that it's a great group of people," she said.

The council voted unanimously to approve the request, prompting the audience to erupt into applause and Hill to burst into tears.

Quick hits

What the shelter will do:

• Quarantine incoming animals for seven to 10 days.
• Ensure animals are spayed or neutered.
• Have a primary veterinarian who will check all pets before they leave the shelter.

What the shelter won't do:

• Take in strays.
• Euthanize animals.

How to get involved:

• Click here if you would like to contribute to the Pet Food Pantry program.