The Indianapolis animal shelter will host a major adoption event this weekend before closing for a week to move into a new facility.
The Indianapolis Animal Care Services shelter will close from May 4-10 to move animals and staff into a new facility on the southeast side, at 5001 E. Raymond St. The new shelter, which will open May 11, is more than twice as large as the current 24,000-square-foot facility, which frequently operates at or over capacity.
Until then, the city wants to find new homes for the dogs and cats at the old shelter, southwest of downtown at 2600 S. Harding St.
On May 2 and May 3, the Harding Street facility will remain open from noon to 6:30 p.m. for an adoption event where the city will waive adoption fees. All animals are up to date on vaccinations, as well as spayed or neutered and microchipped for identification.
“The new shelter will give our team the ability to provide a higher level of care and support for every animal who comes through our doors,” IACS Director Amanda Dehoney-Hinkle said in a news release. “We want the animals currently in our care to be in new homes and not transferred to new shelter.”
What to know about Indy’s new animal shelter
The new building cost more than $30 million in public and private money, including a $20 million city bond. It’s located in a ZIP code that historically has reported some of the most stray pickups and animal control calls in Marion County.
The city will pause new adoptions starting May 4 until the new facility opens. Starting May 11, the Raymond Street shelter will be open daily from noon to 7 p.m.
During the closure, only animal control officers can bring in new animals. Residents who find animals in need of care have several options:
If you’re not sure about adopting, you can free up space in the shelter by fostering animals. Learn more at indy.gov/activity/apply-to-foster-an-animal.
Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@indystar.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy animal shelter urges free adoptions amid move to new facility
Reporting by Jordan Smith, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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