posted March 14, 2015 11:15 AM            

Catsnap will open the facility, which will provide veterinary services for animals owned by low-income people.

Jessica Sempek, a Catsnap board member, said the shelter will be opened at 318 S. Garrard St. Remodeling of the facility, which formerly housed an orthodontist's office, is ongoing.

"We initially thought of a property in Rantoul because of how affordable commercial real estate is," Sempek said.

Sempek said the "ambitious" goal would be to be open by the summer, but the "more realistic" goal would be the fall.

A core of 10-15 volunteers is helping with the planning and other work. Residents of Rantoul's Jesus is the Way Prison Ministry will be doing some of the heavy lifting, including pulling up carpet and other tasks.

The 3,200-square-foot facility will serve cats and dogs. About 1,200 square feet of shelter space will be available.

Sempek said Catsnap intends for the facility to be cage-free for sheltering. There will be community cat rooms in the basement that closely resemble a home environment.

The shelter will also include veterinary services for animals owned by low-income residents of the area, including sterilization, vaccination and other wellness services.

Susan Norris founded Catsnap in 2005. She recently passed her veterinary board exams at the University of Illinois and will serve as a volunteer at the new Rantoul facility as well as work a full-time job.

While veterinary services will be provided for dogs, shelter services will be for cats. Through the Hospice Hearts program, dogs will be placed in foster homes. Hospice Hearts seeks to find homes for animals of people who are terminally ill.