Iowa City Animal Care Center seeks 1,500 square foot expansion to meet growing needs

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Just over 2 years ago, The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center was tasked with taking in more than 130 dogs seized from a breeder in Riverside. That’s when staff realized just how tight space can be.

“The need for the extra space on site so we don’t have to find a place off site,” said Animal Services Coordinator Devon Strief.

Now a proposal is in the works for a 1,500 square foot addition. Leaders with the center are saying that will be a “multi-purpose room.”

It would be added on to the backside of the building and designed mainly for dogs and cats to roam, play, and interact.

“During the winter we can’t walk the dogs when it’s too cold, in the summer we can’t walk them when it’s too hot. So just having that space so we can take them and still do enrichment and work with them and things like that,” said Strief.

Not only will the extra space help with the safety of the animals, but it will also serve as a relief for overflow if the location ever needs to house more animals than at it’s current capacity. Currently, they can house 26 dogs total – some are in the adoptable part of the center, others are strays waiting to be transferred.

“Or on the flip side which is probably more likely we would use it as a stray hold area where we have overflow stray dogs out there while they’re waiting for a space on the adoption floor,” said Strief.

The project will cost roughly $1.3 million. Strief says it would be entirely funded by Friends of the Animal Center Foundation – a non-profit organization that raises funds to support the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.

In a statement from the executive director of FACF, they said, in part:

“This project isn’t your average addition! Our first challenge is that government building standards necessitate additional expenses, compliant building codes, specialized equipment and materials. As with any government project, this will go through a bidding process and the lowest responsible bid will be accepted. Once we meet the requirements listed above, the addition involves extensive utility work, including relocating the sewer, gas, electric, and water lines for the entire building. We must also install a new animal care specific HVAC system, as the current system cannot support the increased capacity. The new room will also feature specialized equipment for sanitization, cleaning, and drainage, ensuring the space remains safe and hygienic. While these essential components have a substantial impact on the overall cost, they are vital for creating an environment that supports the well-being of the animals we serve.”

But before construction can start, city council has to approve the project for bids. Strief says they hope to get going by spring of 2026.

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