Officials at the Andalusia Animal Shelter hope fundraising activities at the upcoming City of Andalusia’s “Easter Extravaganza” will serve as a catalyst for a new shelter facility.

Christin Ball, shelter manager, said Wednesday that the city is hosting a children’s Easter egg hunt on Sun., April 1. The event will be held from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Springdale and will feature “Peter Cottontail.” Children will be divided into two age groups.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” Ball said. “There’s going to be an assortment of activities going on to benefit the animal shelter that day. You can buy a 5×7 picture of Peter Cottontail and your child or your child and an animal — whatever you want. There’s going to be lots to activities and games, and light refreshments, as well.

“Everything we raise that day benefits the animal shelter and helps our building fund,” she said.

Ball said a site for the facility has been chosen on Sutton Road, and once funds are raised, construction can begin.

“We have no room here,” she said of the shelter’s current location off U.S. Hwy. 84. “We’re running out of room. We have the land. What we need is a metal building about three times the size of this one.”

Ball said the shelter currently operates 25 dog kennels and 12 cat cages.

“We have to have more room,” she said. “We can’t even hold an adopt-a-thon here because we don’t have the room.”

To raise additional funds, the shelter is currently sponsoring a month-long raffle for two Phillips portable DVD players, a touch screen MP3 player, art work and handmade jewelry by local artisans and a free spay or neuter. Ball said tickets are $2 each.

“We also have a thing going that the more tickets you buy, the more you get free,” she said. “If you buy 10, then you get five free, and so on.”

Ball said staff can deliver to locals purchasing five tickets or more; however, tickets are also available at the shelter, at the Andalusia Police Department or by calling 334-222-8705.