New animal shelter coming to El Centro after planning commission's green light
El Centro, CA – The Humane Society of Imperial Valley is one step closer to having a long-needed new shelter now that the City of El Centro Planning Commission has approved its Conditional Use Permit on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
The new shelter will be housed on a one-acre lot off of South Hope Street that was donated by local businessman Jim Duggins. The shelter, which is to be built by Duggins Construction, will be a 7,724-square-foot building with 107 kennels, office area, administrative offices, and a dog run. The new facility will enable the Humane Society to shelter and care for even more animals, more than double what it currently can at its Pico Avenue location.
Other than providing a safe haven for homeless animals, the new facility will also enable community programs such as the Positive Engagement Team (P.E.T.), which collaborates with Imperial County Behavioral Health to train therapy dogs for individuals in need. The Humane Society already houses approxim`ately 2,000 animals per year, and the expansion will enable them to continue their services to the Imperial Valley community.
The approval of the Conditional Use Permit is a huge step forward for the project, but there is still some work to do before the project can break ground. The Humane Society thanked Duggins Construction, the El Centro Planning Commission, and those in the community who spoke in favor of the project during the meeting.
"Let the serious fundraising begin!" the Humane Society wrote in a social media update after the approval.
With the permit secured, the organization will now focus on raising funds for the long-awaited project through to completion. Community support and donations will be key to making this vision a reality for the region's homeless animals.
To donate Click Here or find out more, visit the Humane Society's official website or social media platforms.