The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe and the Town of Truckee are expanding their partnership and are planning to build a joint animal shelter. Building the shelter together will eliminate duplicative services and cut down on expenses for both partners.

The Town of Truckee has secured land where they will be moving their corporation yard. Approximately 1.5 acres of this land has been designated to the new shelter at no cost to the Humane Society.

An architect who specializes in shelters and veterinary hospitals has designed a facility that is inviting, efficient and able to accommodate the current and future homeless pet population in our community. The facility will be approximately 10,000 square feet and will include real life rooms for the dogs, allowing them to act more like they would in a home environment, hence increasing their adoptability. The cats will not be crammed into small cages, but instead will live in large colony-style rooms with perches, windows to the outside and natural sunlight. These living conditions will help keep them happier, less stressed, healthier and more adoptable.

With a facility that is open to the public on a daily basis, HSTT will be able to save more lives than ever before. The ability for people to meet the pets on a daily basis will make it easier for them to adopt rather than going to pet stores for their new furry family member.

The new facility will also include and education and training center. This will allow HSTT to increase and expand our humane education, dog training and pet assisted therapy programs. With a lock-off to the rest of the building, this education center will also be available to other community based groups who require meeting or training space.

HSTT and the Town of Truckee will split the cost of constructing the new facility. The groundbreaking timeline will be contingent upon the fundraising efforts of HSTT. HSTT's capital campaign is underway and we hope to begin construction by summer of 2011.