FRUIT HEIGHTS—Animal Care of Davis County (ACDC) houses more than 4,000 animals annually and has been bursting at the seams for quite some time. The current 11,000 square foot facility was built in 1985 and has gone through several renovations. In 2020, Davis County explored the possibility of remodeling the existing facility or building a new one. 

The decision was made to construct a new building that would be approximately 32,000 square feet, more than doubling current capacity. The new facility will be built on the current land. However, the project has been cut back slightly due to rising costs.

“The county had a budget of $14 million for construction of the new Animal Care project,” said Davis County Director Facilities Management, Lane Rose. “We hired Construction Management General Contractor to give us early design phases estimates before it went out to bid. That helps control costs.”

The first design phase estimate was over budget by $2 million, he said. “The commission asked us to reduce the square footage to keep it within budget. Rising construction costs and some tariffs have affected the project.”

The next design phase will reduce some finishes, Rose said. “Instead of doing an interior garage it will probably be an awning. Some office space and clinical vet space will be reduced. There will still be vet space just reduced services.”

There will be no finished flooring, walls, lighting and ceilings in some areas, he said. “It will be a shell most likely used for storage. We’ll reduce where we can and still operate the facility.”

Rose said they are still trying to keep the capacity for animal spaces. “That is still a high priority and needed. The rising population and number of animals in the county have shown an increased amount of animals processed through the facility.”

ACDC is the only animal shelter in the county. It accepts all animals and has a 95% live release. 

“We’re trying to keep it on track and on budget,” said Rose. “The contractor will go out to bid on our behalf. That should go out at the first of the year then construction will begin shortly after.”