The McDonough County Humane Society will build its new animal shelter on property just east of its current location on Tower Road.
The land is owned by the city of Macomb and is currently used as an impound lot.
Bonnie Smith-Skripps, president of the Humane Society’s board, told the city council this week that the site will give them much-needed space to grow.
“The shelter will probably be three-and-a-half times larger than the one that’s currently in existence, and it would just make a big difference in what we’re trying to do,” she said.
The current animal shelter has been used since the early 1980s. It’s in need of repair, and lacks space for people to get acquainted with animals up for adoption.
The proposed new shelter would have free-range areas for cats, plus outdoor runs for all the dogs.
Smith-Skripps said they’ve raised $950,000 for building the new shelter, and the fundraising continues.
The plan is for the city to lease the site to the Humane Society for 99 years with no payment required from the all-volunteer organization.
The city council held first reading of the ordinance this week and could be asked to approve it later this month.
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