On October 2, the Lucas County Commissioners joined community members and project partners to break ground on the site that will house a brand-new Lucas County Canine Care and Control facility.
The 40,000-square foot shelter will be at 1301 Monroe Street, Toledo, and is expected to be ready for occupancy by April, 2025. The building will cost $31.1 million.
The groundbreaking signals a significant milestone in a years-long project officials say will enhance the services LC4 provides to dogs that have become homeless through no fault of their own.
“To say we are extremely excited for this new building is an understatement,” said Kelly Sears, director. “Not only will this new facility enable us to provide a much better shelter experience for both the canines in our care and the people we serve, it will serve as a testament to the hard work and love poured out by our staff, volunteers, donors, elected officials and community leaders.”
The state-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to house 169 dogs with a shortterm emergency capacity of 205. Kennels at the facility will have limited dog counts to reduce barking and stress to staff members and will give dogs access to natural sunlight. The kennels also will feature isolated plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to mitigate disease spread.
“This groundbreaking kicks off a new day for canine care in Lucas County,” Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak said. “This new facility will allow staff members at LC4 to expand the compassionate care they provide to some of the most vulnerable dogs in our community. We are beyond excited to see this project to completion.”
The expanded building also will offer an outdoor fenced play area with sections designated for off-leash exercise.
“This is a game-changer for our community,” Commissioner Pete Gerken said. “We know that the people of Lucas County support this and we’re proud to deliver on a pledge we made. With these upgrades, LC4 will be able to increase its adoption rate and take in more dogs in need.”
With the new building, LC4 will expand a number of current programs it provides such as Snout and About, a popular program that pairs people with dogs to embark on day-long adventures. The agency also hosts a low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic, which offers vaccinations, flea and tick prevention and microchips that are administered by veterinary staff all at reduced prices.
“We love all of our dogs in Lucas County and this new facility reinforces our commitment to providing the best care possible to our furry friends in need,” Commissioner Lisa Sobecki said. “While we have done some amazing work already, this new building will equip us with the tools to become a national leader in canine care.”
