Today, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a construction contract to build a new animal care shelter in the East Valley. The County has set aside $36 million to build a new, modern shelter space in the City of Mesa at Baseline Road and Lewis Drive. The shelter will be located on land the county already owns.
“Today’s vote is another important step in our ongoing mission to find good outcomes for as many homeless pets in our community as possible while fulfilling our statutory responsibilities in this area,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers, District 1. “A larger, modern facility with a better layout will allow us to keep animals healthy and adoptable and the entire community safe.”
“I’m happy to move this project forward on behalf of the entire East Valley, and especially the residents who have put their heart and soul into volunteering, adopting, or fostering at our current location,” said Supervisor Steve Chucri, District 2. “Building a new shelter on land we own will be good for animal welfare. It’s also smart financially because there’s no land cost and the infrastructure is already there.”
The new facility will replace the current shelter at Rio Salado and the Loop 101 which is 30 years old and due for replacement. A favorite of staff, volunteers, and community members, the Rio Salado shelter has consistently housed and treated thousands of homeless dogs and cats each year. It was temporarily closed during the pandemic, but currently cares for about 200 adoptable dogs. Plans to replace it with a more modern animal shelter have been in the works for some time but were delayed due to the pandemic.
Layton Construction will manage the project. The company has worked on many other large county builds in recent years including the award-winning 225 W. Madison project that converted an old jail into modern office space for the County Attorney’s Office.