City, county break ground on multimillion-dollar animal shelter

The city of Springfield and Greene County broke ground Friday on a new multimillion-dollar animal shelter that's long been in the planning phase.

Katie Towns, director of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, which oversees Springfield-Greene County Animal Control, said at the ceremony that the shelter project has been in discussions since 2004.

"This day has been a long time coming," she said. "We're so grateful to be here today."

The 3303 W. Division St. project, near the intersection with West Bypass, would replace Animal Control's existing shelter at 4002 N. Farmer Road. That facility built in the 1930s – with additions constructed in the 1940s, 1970s and 2000s – is prone to flooding and other issues.

Branco Enterprises Inc. is general contractor for the 8,951-square-foot development designed by Hood-Rich Architecture Inc. The building would have over 5,000 square feet of animal housing and roughly 3,200 square feet for offices, officials say, noting the project would add an outdoor running area for animals, a centralized drain system and upgraded parking.

Officials say the city of Springfield is contributing $3.4 million to the project through the municipality's property tax, and Greene County is contributing $1.5 million from a countywide 0.5% general sales tax approved by voters in 2017.

"This is a day where we celebrate collaboration," Greene County Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon said at the ceremony. "In the areas where we are able to collaborate and we have collaborated and we've worked together, we have had great successes, and this is certainly one of those."

The animal shelter project is slated for completion in early 2026. Officials say the planned use for the building housing the existing animal shelter has not yet been determined.