Updated: Wed Feb. 25 2009 11:29:33

ctvedmonton.ca

The brand new Edmonton Humane Society facility is set to open in May and it will have everything dogs and cats could need, but that has some small business owners worried.

"Our concerns are that it's an unlevel playing field, they are a registered not for profit charity and they are opening one of the largest dog daycares in Edmonton," said Roseanna Gulleckson, with Makin' Trax Canine Care and Training Center.

The Edmonton Humane Society said they are not trying to compete with small business.

"We have been advocating the need for dog day cares, we are now just pretty much doing what we have been preaching," said Shawna Randolph with EHS.

EHS argues that there is a need for more daytime care for dogs.

"Two years ago we did a survey of dog daycares in the area and found two years ago there were waiting lists for many organizations," said Randolph.

But, Gulleckson said she's done her own research and found just the opposite to be true.

"I contacted just about every dog daycare in the Yellow Pages, none had waiting lists and to their knowledge hadn't been contacted regarding a study," she said.

Despite the fact that EHS has been around for over 100 years, the local dog care industry wants them to stick to their roots.

"They need to go back to what their mandate was and what they are supposed to be doing and that is saving the animals," said Nicole Johnston, owner of Dogspaw.

The cost of the new EHS building came to over $22 million, with over $6 million from the Alberta government, another $1.25 million from the City of Edmonton and another $400,000 from surrounding cities.

With files from CTV's Rob McAnally