The city of Ames recently purchased a 6-acre property for a new animal shelter that could double the number of animals taken in while providing more space for individual cats, dogs and exotic pets.
Staff say the larger space will also help them expand other services, including caring for pets while domestic abuse survivors find new housing, and easing shelter capacity issues in the region.
The $7.5 million project involves extensive renovations of a former child care center onsite and building a separate annex for dogs over the next two years…