Wearing a miniature hard hat, a dog up for adoption through Missoula Animal Control dug into a pile of dirt where an expanded facility will be built over the next year. 

The Missoula Animal Control breaks ground on a $3.5 million shelter expansion project on Friday, Sep. 6 in Missoula.

Local leaders broke ground on an expansion project for Missoula's city-county animal shelter on Friday. The new 3,300 square-foot addition to the existing facility will double the size of the space on Butler Creek Road. 

"Staff here works seven days a week to feed, shelter and love pets separated from their owners or are surrendered to us and the shelter," Mayor Andrea Davis said. "And very importantly, they vaccinate, house and provide necessary medical care for lost and stray pets and pets put up for adoption."

Speakers said the needs of Missoula's animal shelter have outgrown the space the current building offers, especially as Missoula's population has ballooned in recent years. The Butler Creek location was first built over 20 years ago. 

"This facility, as well used as it has been, is inadequate," said Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier. "It just is inadequate to the needs of us in the year of 2024 to respectfully, with dignity, house these friends of ours."

Animal Control Manager Holli Hargrove speaks during an expansion and remodel groundbreaking ceremony at the Missoula animal shelter on Friday, Sep. 6.

He said the expansion will help address the space needs of shelter staff, veterinarians and pets themselves.

"This is a long time coming," he said.

Additional veterinary space will be added in too, and will have recovery kennels for animals that were recently spayed and neutered. Larger dog kennels, flexible cat rooms and a room dedicated to smaller creatures like gerbils, rabbits, birds and fish will be included too. 

"Hopefully with all those changes, animals are going to experience less stress," said Holli Hargrove, Animal Control manger.

Quincy, a shelter dog, attends the groundbreaking ceremony at the Missoula Animal Control shelter on Friday, Sep. 6.

Speakers encouraged Missoulians to adopt animals now if possible so critters won't have to deal with the disruption caused by construction. The expansion will include space for the public to visit and do meet-and-greets with potential pets. The shelter has 16 dogs eligible for adoption as of Friday, along with 22 cats. 

"Now is the ideal time to adopt pets from the animal shelter," Davis said. 

The project costs $3.5 million. It'll be finished around late summer in 2025. 

Missoula Ward 4 City Councilor Mike Nugent said the new building is going to incorporate energy-efficient elements, including making it solar ready when it's up and running. Missoula got a $76,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to help with installation costs.

Missoula Animal Control breaks ground on a $3.5 million expansion project on Friday, Sep. 6.

Shelter dogs Quincy and Luke attend the groundbreaking ceremony at Missoula's city-county animal shelter on Friday, Sep. 6.

Shelter cat, “Meow Meow,” attends the groundbreaking ceremony at the Missoula Animal Control shelter on Friday, Sep. 6.

Shelter dog, Luke, attends the groundbreaking ceremony at Missoula Animal Control on Friday, Sep. 6 in Missoula.