The Ames Animal Shelter is launching a capital fundraising campaign kick-off event on Friday at 11 a.m. to raise funds for their new facility.
The event will be held at the shelter’s current location, 325 Billy Sunday Road, which opened in 1995 and has insufficient space for every animal, according to previous reporting from the Daily.
The shelter houses guinea pigs in the hallways due to inadequate space to provide them with a private area, which the Daily reported on in 2023
.The Ames City Council approved purchasing property for a new facility at 2715 Dayton Avenue, the former site of a childcare center. The building will require renovation and an addition specifically for dogs.
The new facility will not only have additional space for animals but also provide more room for staff, volunteers and shelter visitors. It’s anticipated to be four to five times larger than the existing animal shelter.
The project is estimated to cost $7.5 million total. After donations and a commitment from the Ames City Council of $3 million, the shelter is still seeking $1.5 million to reach its goal.
The Ames Animal Shelter is a no-kill animal rescue and sheltering facility. According to its website, the shelter helped 1,083 cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals in 2024.
The shelter places over 98% of animals received in new homes or returns them to their original owners.
The event will feature a brief program with Ames Mayor John Haila, with additional animal and human guests.
To donate to the animal shelter, visit their website. For more information about the shelter’s vision for the new building, click here.