Norway panel approves thrift store renovations

NORWAY — The Planning Board unanimously approved a building permit for Responsible Pet Care to renovate a portion of its Pawsibilities Thrift Shoppe and add a restroom.

Shirley Boyce, president of the organization, told the Planning Board on Thursday night that with the discontinuance of the adjacent pet shelter building, which had a restroom, one now needs to be added to the shop for its volunteers.

Pawsibilities Thrift Shoppe is located at 132 Waterford Road in Norway.

Additionally, some renovations to remove the flat roof portion of the building and the tower will be completed when the restroom is put in, she said.

Earlier this year, the Responsible Pet Care shelter moved into new headquarters at 9 Swallow Road in Paris leaving that building empty. Plans are to either sell the building or remove it, Boyce said.

“The shelter building is in pretty bad shape,” Boyce said of the building that has shaky floors and a flooded basement, among other problems.

Responsible Pet Care is a no-kill, nonprofit shelter and adoption center for cats and dogs established in 1997 by a small group of people in the Oxford Hills community.

The group pooled their money and purchased both neglected buildings on Waterford Street (Route 118) by Lake Pennesseewassee. One was repaired and put into use as a shelter. The other building is the thrift store.

The thrift store is manned by volunteers and currently open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It generates good income for the shelter,” said Boyce.

Boyce said the organization is looking for help with the project, either with materials, labor or financial donations.

Donations may be mailed to Responsible Pet Care at P.O. Box 82, Norway, ME 04268. For more information, call 207-743-8679.

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