Fundraising efforts are nearing the finish line for the new Ames animal shelter, which is expected to open next year.
The Ames Animal Shelter will be housed in a building at 2715 Dayton Avenue, a former daycare, almost three times the size of the current shelter along Billy Sunday Road in the southern part of town. The project will cost $7.5 million, and after almost a year of fundraising, only $30,000 remains to be raised.
The former daycare building was purchased thanks to a private $3 million donation and the city’s match. Fundraising efforts for the remaining $1.5 million started in May 2025. More than $1.4 million has been raised in the few months since.
“We are so thankful for all the donors who have helped us reach our goal,” Ames Animal Control Supervisor Ron Edwards said.
Though the shelter’s opening date has not been set, construction is expected to start in the summer and take a year to complete.
The city is still working with architects on the facility’s design, which was presented to Ames City Council at a recent meeting.
Ames Animal Shelter outgrew current facility
The current Ames Animal Shelter at 325 Billy Sunday Road was built in 1994. Staff said the building is too small to properly serve the community at 3,500 square feet.
The animal shelter staff said it’s often at capacity, making it difficult to isolate animals for disease control. The building struggles with insulation, ventilation, and moisture control.
In 2025, the shelter took in 598 cats, 246 dogs, five rabbits, and 25 small pets like hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, and parakeets. About 429 cats and 100 dogs have been adopted, while 131 cats and 137 dogs have been returned to their owners.
The shelter was recently housing 32 cats, seven dogs, two parakeets, two rats and two guinea pigs. The shelter also has 27 cats, and seven dogs in foster care with its shelter volunteers.
Where will the new Ames animal shelter be?
The new shelter will take over for Loft Day Care, where it operated at 2715 Dayton Avenue until late 2024.
The site encompasses nearly six acres of land, anchored by a 10,880-square-foot, single-story building with a nearly 2,000-square-foot basement and a 26-stall parking lot.
Ames purchased the property for $1.1 million in February 2025.
What will the new Animal Shelter offer?
Some of the new features at the new animal shelter include:
How to donate to the Ames Animal Shelter
Donations to the Ames Animal Shelter can be made online on the City of Ames’ website under the Animal Shelter and Animal Control tab.
Check or cash donations can be mailed or dropped off at 325 Billy Sunday Road, Ames, IA 50010.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Nearing funding goal, Ames plans to open new animal shelter in 2027
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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