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Kennel construction could reduce intake of dogs at Lollypop Farm

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Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, is undergoing renovations that will mean less capacity for dogs over the next several months.

President and CEO Alice Calabrese says the kennels where dogs are held when they first arrive at the shelter will be upgraded to limit the spread of disease and reduce the animals' overall stress level.

"It is the most stressful time in any animal's life when they're making that transition," Calabrese said. "They're leaving their home and coming to an environment where everything is new, so these are kennels that are critical in their care of the dogs."

New heating and cooling systems will be installed along with new acoustical tiles to reduce noise, and new doors that give dogs access to outdoor courtyards.

The Humane Society typically has enough room for 120 dogs, but that will be reduced by about 10 until construction is completed this fall.

Calabrese is asking anyone who wants to surrender a dog to call the shelter first.

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"I think if people have options, we're asking them to look at other options besides bringing them to the shelter," she explained. "We are more than happy to explore those options, and many times, people aren't thinking of all the options that might be available to them."

Calabrese said the shelter has to ensure that enough space is available for emergencies, such as an abuse case or a litter of puppies that need care. Overall, six kennels will be renovated, but the work will be done one suite at a time.

The project is partially funded through a grant from New York State's Companion Animal Fund. 

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.