Leander pets celebrate updated digs

Outside looking in you would think, "Here's a home improvement show going on." But look closer. 

The people inside an old building in Leander are working long hours and about to go into their second week of installing new floors. The individuals hard at work are actually volunteers who have joined hands to make a difference at the SPCA of Central Texas .

Nearly a dozen members from an area home improvement store responded to the SPCA's call for help. Store employees donated their labor and the store pitched in thousands of dollars. The store is also supplying flooring, doors and cabinets.

"The flooring has had some sub-structure issues as well, as it's been piece-mealed through the years," said Vicky Wasser of SPCA of Central Texas. "We just don't know how to finance this because we're 100 percent [supported by] donations."

The facility in Leander has been in dire need of improvements, but tight budgets have kept the to-do list on hold until now.

"Being able to have a setting like this where it's more like a home environment," said David Lavergne, cat caretaker, "they're [cats] under much less stress, so they tend to be healthier."

The volunteers who have put their time and energy into the project say they get a lot of satisfaction from helping more than five dozen animals that call this facility their temporary home.

"It's an opportunity to come out here and help the community," said Roman Delino of Lowe's in northwest Austin, "Which I think all of us are excited to to have a chance to do."

While some of the construction noise is making some of the dogs shake in their paws, soon the animals will realize it was all for them.