Animal advocate Liz Jones and the volunteers with The Sanctuary at Haafsville are realizing their dream of building a safe haven for lost, abused and homeless dogs.

The Sanctuary at Haafsville, 901 Nestle Way, Breinigsville, recently had a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Mutt Hut, which will provide quality housing for dogs.

“Katie Terach and her family have made this possible,” Jones said. “They donated the land to build on.”

Jones said the building when finished at the end of 2017 will measure 30 feet by 65 feet and it will have 16 indoor and outdoor kennels measuring 4 feet by 6 feet each.

The building will also have 4-foot by 10-foot dog runs, tempered glass gates, premium metal dog doors so the dogs can access the outdoors at will and three dedicated office and reception rooms.

“The cost to build the building is $200,000,” Jones said. “We still need to raise $40,000 to $50,000.”

Jones said the vision for the Sanctuary was always a place that would not be just for the animals but for the people involved.

“We have 175 active volunteers,” she said.

“And because of that, this organization, which has only been operational for almost six years, is able to start a new building, which doesn’t happen with new groups.

“It takes years to get to that position but because of the hard work of you, the volunteers, we get to do this.”

Jones said after the “Mutt Hut” is finished they will be taking and revamping where all the animals presently live and turning that into a home for cats, called the “Cat Cottage.”

“Through this small facility (The Sanctuary) and our foster homes, we have been able to rescue and rehouse 1,600 animals,” Jones said.

“And last but not least, I truly want to thank Bob Long.

“Bob is spearheading this project and has been there through all the rigorous times. He puts up with me on an almost daily basis. “He is backed up by this phenomenal family, including his wife Carol, and daughter Ashley.”

Long thanked Home Depot, Upper Macungie Township; Meyers Property Services, Breinigsville; Adams Glass and Aluminum, Allentown; Deluxe Plumbing and Heating, Bethlehem;, I.B.E.W; and Lancaster Pole Buildings Inc., New Holland, for helping build the Mutt Hut.

“The building has been years in the making,” Long said. “We had to overcome obstacles with the water authority and finances and we had to make do with temporary buildings.”

Long said with the new building they can bathe the dogs, do laundry and save more animals.

“This organization has a lot of great people who dedicate a lot of their time and resources to make the sanctuary great for the animals,” Long said.