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Proposed New Leash on Life shelter would add veterinary clinic, sally port and community resources to Crown Point
Summary
New Leash on Life proposed a 20,000–22,000 sq ft no-kill animal shelter with an on-site veterinary clinic, a 24/7 sally port for first responders, and community services (food pantry, training). Presenters emphasized design features to reduce barking and improve animal welfare; commissioners asked for sound-mitigation plans and confirmed neighbors and the Crown Point Community Foundation are engaged.
New Leash on Life presented a detailed workshop for a proposed animal-shelter and veterinary clinic on a 19.5-acre lot west of Court Street. The proposal calls for a 20,000–22,000-square-foot facility with a veterinary clinic to provide spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and minor medical care, plus adoption areas, enclosed outdoor play yards and community resources such as a pet food pantry and programming for pet retention.
Donna Forwalder Pace, founder and CEO, highlighted partnerships with local organizations, including a signed letter of support from Crown Point Police Chief Ryan Patrick and plans to dedicate space for domestic-violence survivors through St. Jude House. She described a 24/7 sally port where first responders could temporarily secure animals found at emergency scenes. Dr. Danielle Pace-Kraus, consulting veterinarian, said the clinic would provide surgical and preventive services for animals in the shelter’s care and low-cost services to the public.
Commissioners and staff focused on operational details and neighborhood impacts. Multiple commissioners asked about sound attenuation for outdoor play areas and volunteers’ role in outdoor supervision; project engineers and the design team described specialized shelter architecture (half walls, intermediary hallways, noise-rated materials and extended walls to the roof) and committed to consulting acoustical specialists. Presenters estimated shelter capacity at roughly 68 dogs and 68 cats at maximum and projected 2,000–3,500 animal intakes per year based on a population methodology.
No votes were taken; presenters said they will return seeking variances related to orientation facing Court Street and monument signage, and will provide additional engineering and acoustical mitigation details at future hearings.
What happens next: The project team will submit variance and site-approval materials and acoustic mitigation plans to staff for review before returning to the commission for formal actions.
