The Nanton and District Animal Protection Society (NAPS) is hoping to move their cats, waiting for forever homes, into a new shelter - sooner rather than later.

Kim Williamson says they are grateful for the current location, it is however missing a few key things like insulation and running water.

"Earlier this year we put a deposit down on an 1,100 square foot old school portable," said Williamson. "I think it was built in the eighties, but it is in pretty good condition."

And the Nanton Vet Clinic parceled off a bit of land for the building to be put on and both purchases came to just under $60,000 which took the society five years to raise.

"Fundraising moving forward is being focused on preparing the land for the building and the renovations that will go on inside to make it more suitable for our needs."

They need to add a bathroom and a laundry room, make all the surfaces nonporous and give it a paint job.

They also need to build a small garage type building for dogs.

There will also be dog and cat runs and a memorial garden where people can purchase a tree or plant for passed away pets.

"We are just going through all the red tape and permits and applications processes to get things moving forward," said Williamson.

However, once they have all the permits they are in need of money before they can move forward.

The budget for the remaining work is set at $100,000.

The building they currently use was donated to the society for a very low rent and they are grateful for the role it has played, but with no insulation or running water it is time to move.

"In the winter months the water bowls freeze over, and we can't mop the floors because it turns into a skating rink."

It is hard to keep cool in the summer, with wood paneling and plywood floors, if a disease was to break out it would be hard to get under control.

"We have no running water so volunteers cart it in, in little milk jugs by the dozen, every other day."

They have to heat kettles of water for cleaning and there are no washrooms on site for volunteers or visitors.

And frankly the building does look like a shack.

"It doesn't look very nice or appealing to people who show up to adopt. We don't look very legitimate," said Williamson.

The building committee has been working hard for five years to make this project happen.

They have started a go-fund-me page and are hopeful some community support will step up.

"Now that we have some land, which was a huge hurdle, and we have got a building, it feels like we are making some progress, we just have this last little stretch to go where we need some help."