The Cedar Valley Humane Society (CVHS) has broken ground on the next phase of its ongoing construction project.
According to a release, the project will significantly enhance the shelter’s capacity to provide care and support to the growing number of animals in need throughout the community.
“It was the dream and the determination of our late president, Kirsten Smith, that got this project started in 2016, and I couldn’t be more proud to stand here today finally making this dream a reality,” CVHS board president Taylor Barron Skogman said at the groundbreaking ceremony March 26. “That is why today is so important. With this expansion, we are investing in a future that allows us to sustain and grow our lifesaving services.”
CVHS is also re-launching a comprehensive capital campaign, “Expanding Our Pawprint,” to raise the necessary funds to complete the project. The campaign will support the expansion of a new adoption center and allow much-needed renovations to our current facility.
“We are thrilled to be moving forward with the next phase of our project,” said Lonnie Viner, executive director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society. “This expansion will allow us to care for more animals, improve our services, and strengthen our impact in the Cedar Valley community. We are asking for the public’s support in this capital campaign to help us reach our goals and continue our mission.”
According to CVHS leaders, the current 7,000-square-foot building facility at 7411 Mount Vernon Road SE, built in 1968, is inadequate for the growing number of animals in need of help in Eastern Iowa, and requires updates to sustain the evolving services.
The campaign seeks to triple the shelter size to 18,000 square feet, update HVAC systems to include separate systems for isolation and adoption areas, increase natural light to enhance mood and reduce stress of shelter pets, utilize materials that reduce sound amplification to reduce stress for shelter pets, increase animal kennel capacity to ensure safety, update flooring to be sealed for safety and disease control, create quarantine areas to care for animals with contagious diseases while preventing the spread to healthy pets, and create additional play yards for dogs for enrichment and socialization.
The kickoff of this phase comes from a $1 million donation from the Allsop family, which will serve as the foundation of the campaign’s fundraising efforts.
“I’m honored to stand up here before you to announce as of today, we recently passed a grand total of $9 million raised to date,” Expanding Our Pawprint capital campaign chair Zach Bohannon said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We are well on our way to have a grand reopening with this new larger facility, along with a full renovation of the current building, by late spring 2026.”
The capital campaign seeks to raise an additional $1.5 million to fund the project. Contributions will ensure that CVHS can continue to serve as a safe haven for animals while promoting responsible pet ownership and humane education in the community.
Community members and local businesses can contribute to this campaign by visiting the CVHS website or contacting the shelter directly.
For more information on the capital campaign or to donate, go to www.cvhumane.org/expanding-our-pawprint or contact executive director Lonnie Viner at [email protected] or 319-362-6288.
The Cedar Valley Humane Society has been serving the Cedar Rapids community since 1901, providing shelter, medical care, and adoption services to animals in need, while also offering a wide range of community education and outreach programs.
The Cedar Valley Humane Society currently provides animal services to over 140,000 residents in 47 municipalities, within three counties including all unincorporated areas of Linn and Benton counties. In 2023, the CVHS helped more than 7,000 animals.
