DuPage County animal shelter reports renovations, staffing updates and events; population steady ahead of kitten season

DuPage County animal services staff told the group on April 15 that the new shelter building is nearing final inspection, renovations to older kennels are under way and the agency is scheduling a grand‑opening open house in June.

Why it matters: The shelter is preparing for higher seasonal intake and needs to manage space, staffing and community events while maintaining animal welfare and adoption services.

Laura, an animal services staff member, said plumbers are installing final sinks in the medical clinic, cabinets and countertops are being finished, and the department is reapplying epoxy to kennel rooms and replacing broken hardware. Installation of signage and a photo mural in the lobby is under way.

Staff said they are planning a public open house, now targeted for June 14, replacing an earlier June 7 date because several invited participants will be out of town. The shelter will host a volunteer appreciation open house Saturday the 19th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and staff again described other fundraising and outreach events: a Raise the Roof gala that has been moved to the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook (staff referred to a date in discussion but the final date was not specified in the transcript); a Panera dine‑out night benefiting the shelter at the Panera on Glen Ellen; and Giving DuPage Days on May 1, which staff said uses a one‑day giving portal for donations.

Staff described recent training hosted in the community room that drew about 60 to 65 participants from DuPage and neighboring counties, including representatives from local police departments and the Forest Preserve District. The session provided field service kits and training materials; the Chicago Land Humane Coalition donated microchip scanners, and the shelter purchased larger cat carriers and other supplies for field use.

On population, staff reported the shelter population at roughly 20 animals at the time of the meeting, with an uptick in cats and several pregnant females already arriving. Laura said the shelter expects kitten season could push population numbers above 200 during peak periods and that the facility is preparing accordingly. The shelter also noted staffing and vehicle limitations for outreach: only a handful of staff members are authorized to drive the outreach van.

Board members asked operational questions about event capacity (staff said Side A and B capacity is 75 people), restroom access, and whether rescue partners could use the event room at no cost for adoption events. Staff said the draft ordinance includes language allowing fee waivers or reductions when appropriately recorded, and that rescue partners who pull animals from the shelter could receive fee consideration.

Ending — forward look: Staff said they will complete final building inspections in the coming week, finalize plans for the grand opening and continue to coordinate volunteer and fundraising events. No major policy decisions were made at the meeting; topics reported were operational updates and scheduling.