A new Riverside County animal shelter is expected to open this summer in San Jacinto around the corner from the nonprofit Ramona Humane Society, which has housed animals from the region for years and will continue to operate as an adoption shelter.
The construction site is on South Grand Avenue just north of West Seventh Street in the city's industrial area.
The 10-building complex has separate buildings for strays that are in protective custody or isolation, and for dogs that are up for adoptions, according to Doug Austin, Riverside County Department of Animal Services operations chief for field and shelter services. Cats will have their own building with indoor and screened outdoor areas.
For the first 11 months of 2009, live impound strays, owner-surrender animals and confiscated animals from county areas or contract cities totaled 13,648 at the Ramona shelter, according to county statistics.
Some animals brought to the shelter may be transferred to a shelter operated by the nonprofit Animal Friends of the Valleys in Lake Elsinore because of where they were found, according to John Welsh, spokesman for county animal services.
The county supervisors awarded a $13.85 million construction contract to Tovey/Schultz almost a year ago. The approximately 43,000-square-foot complex of buildings will house animals from the midcounty area, including the San Jacinto Valley, Winchester and Homeland, and contract cities. Cities currently served by the Ramona shelter are Hemet, San Jacinto and Menifee.
The county currently contracts with the humane society to house animals. The cities contract with the county for field and shelter services.
The complex incorporates the latest in design aimed at keeping the animals healthy.
"Illness is the biggest challenge in kenneling any animal," Austin said. A special-coated block is being used in the construction of the building walls. Buildings have an air exhaust system so air is not recirculated. There is radiant floor heating, kennel floors that slope to drains and skylights for natural light.
"We're trying to make the cleaning process as quick and easy as possible," Austin said.
There will also be corrals outside for horses.
The working title for the facility is San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, said Welsh. Third District County Supervisor Jeff Stone, whose district includes the shelter, will recommend a permanent name for the facility for approval by his board before the facility opens.
Animal Services Director Robert Miller expects the new shelter to open in July. He said the county facility will serve the legally mandated role of taking in strays or owner-surrendered animals and become a primary source of animals for the Ramona Humane Society as an adoption shelter.
The humane society operates an onsite spay/neuter clinic, which the county would utilize.
The humane society will continue operating its shelter on Humane Way just off Seventh Street. "We're looking at all options in animal services," said Jeff Sheppard, humane society executive director. "We'll be talking to the county and the cities."
Although Sheppard expects that some animals still may not find homes and be euthanized, "We would like to achieve that status of no-kill."
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