Ames City and private donors have together committed $6,000,000 toward a new animal shelter and organizers announced the city has purchased 2715 Dayton Avenue, the former Eagles Loft Center, as the planned site. The campaign still needs to raise $1,500,000 to meet a stated $4,500,000 fundraising goal.

The commitment came during a fundraising kickoff at the existing shelter, where a city staff member said, "Today, we are here to honor lead donors who have contributed $3,000,000," and noted the Ames City Council "unanimously saw the need for improvements, allocated $3,000,000 towards a new facility, and we have purchased a property over on Dayton, 2715 Dayton Avenue, the former Eagles Loft Center." The anonymous private lead gifts total $3,000,000, campaign organizers said.

The campaign matters, organizers said, because the current shelter — built in 1994 and about 3,500 square feet — is too small for steady operations and for responding to cases such as animal hoarding. "The shelter is definitely capacity," the city staff member said, adding that the building is "not quite adequate" for the animals, staff, and volunteers.

Ron Edwards, Ames Animal Shelter director, described the shelter's work and cases the facility handles: "That's the kind of work that happens in this building here behind me...he survived gunshot and he was adopted by his foster mom." Edwards said a new facility would allow staff to "take in and care for more animals" and to provide space to assist people in domestic violence situations who need to get animals out of the home.

Nancy, a campaign organizer, said the fundraising has already produced $3,000,000 of the $4,500,000 goal and described outreach plans to raise the remaining $1,500,000. "To date, we have already experienced tremendous support and have received 3,000,000 of the needed $4,500,000," she said. She outlined a multifaceted outreach strategy including direct mail to volunteers, donors and adopters; social media videos; volunteer appearances in the Fourth of July parade; booths at the Ames Public Library and farmers market; and partnerships with veterinary clinics and groomers across Story County.

Organizers and staff highlighted volunteer capacity and local partnerships. Nancy said the shelter has "developed a partnership base with over 150 dedicated volunteers and they can collectively contribute over 10,000 volunteer hours a year." She also said local institutions such as the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Animal Science are among community resources that support the shelter's work.

Campaign organizers described program goals for the new facility: create in-house medical care capacity, provide adequate shelter space, increase the number of animals served, and create space to support animals affected by domestic violence. They said the campaign team will produce informational materials and merchandise to raise awareness and funds.

City and campaign speakers thanked volunteers, staff and the mayor and council for their support. The event included a public reveal of the fundraising total and an invitation for volunteers and community groups to help meet the remaining $1,500,000 needed to complete the $4,500,000 campaign goal.