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Homeward Animal Shelter outlines plan for 20,000+ sq ft facility after buying 5.76 acres
Summary
Homeward Animal Shelter told the Cass County Board of Commissioners it has purchased 5.76 acres in north Fargo and is planning a 20,000-plus square-foot shelter with an on-site veterinary space; presenters asked the county to note the shelter’s role and thanked commissioners for past support.
Homeward Animal Shelter representatives told the Cass County Board of Commissioners they have purchased 5.76 acres in north Fargo and are planning a new, 20,000-plus square-foot shelter to replace their roughly 2,300-square-foot facility.
The presentation, given during a regular board meeting, said the new site — near the NDSU Equine Center and North Dakota Horse Park — would support a larger intake, an on-site veterinary area and improved operations. The presenters said they hope to break ground in about a year and move in by 2027.
The update emphasized the shelter’s current role in the community: presenters said Homeward has rescued and rehomed more than 42,000 animals since 1966, adopted out 1,386 animals in 2024 and takes 75%–85% of unclaimed animals from the Fargo pound. Presenters also said 70%–80% of Homeward’s animals are placed in foster homes, a key part of the organization’s capacity.
"We know that we need to do something bigger and better," a Homeward representative told commissioners as the nonprofit described growth in adoptions and the limits of its current 2,300-square-foot shelter.
Volunteer Amy Ruhly, who spoke during the update, said she is "really impressed by the fact that we're no kill" and praised staff and volunteers for managing many animals despite space constraints. Ruhly said the shelter’s staff and foster network have allowed Homeward to expand adoptions while operating from a small building.
Presenters described the new design as intended to serve anticipated growth and to add capacity for on-site veterinary care, which they said would reduce costs and the logistical burden of transporting animals to outside clinics.
Commissioners asked routine questions about operations and veterinary care; presenters said the shelter does not currently employ a full-time veterinarian and relies on clinics and volunteer veterinarians, and that the new facility would include space intended to allow a veterinarian on staff in the future.
Presenters thanked the commission for prior support; they did not make a formal funding request on the record but asked commissioners and the community to be aware of the capital project and philanthropic needs.
The presentation lasted about a dozen minutes and closed without a request for immediate county action.
