Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The City of Buffalo has unveiled plans for a new home for the Buffalo Animal Shelter in the Spring of 2026.
Buffalo's Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon announced Monday the future location for Buffalo's Animal Shelter at 1294 Niagara Street, located in the city's Upper West Side. This comes after months of planning and identifying a location that will better serve animals, staff, volunteers and the community at large.
"My administration has moved aggressively to identify a new site and establish a public-private partnership that prioritizes the well-being of the animals while remaining fiscally responsible to taxpayers", said Mayor Scanlon during his announcement on Monday.
The new facility will be purpose-built with a focus on health, safety, and comfort, featuring 16,000 square feet of clean, modern indoor spaces, as well as dedicated outdoor areas for exercise and training, and room for future expansion.
In addition, the Mayor’s proposed 2025-26 city budget includes additional resources and increased staffing for the shelter, beginning a Director position that will require qualifications to ensure experienced, compassionate leadership to oversee daily operations and implement best practices. The administration is working with the Buffalo Common Council and AFSCME Local 264 to finalize the staffing plan that will include additional personnel..
The city is also exploring a public-private partnership model that could co-locate pet-related services within the shelter through rental space to small businesses, further increasing community value while reducing the financial burden on taxpayers.
“One of my top priorities since becoming Mayor has been to take a serious look at the current state of the Buffalo Animal Shelter and accelerate the process of securing a much-needed new location," Scanlon said.
"I fully recognize what the shelter means, not only to the animals in our care, but to the residents, volunteers, and advocates who are deeply invested in their welfare. We are delivering real results that put animal care and public accountability front and center."
Meanwhile, New York State Sen. and Buffalo Mayoral candidate Sean Ryan calls out Mayor Scanlon for the shelter plans, saying he's rewarding Ellicott Development, one of his top campaign contributors, with a city contract to build a new Buffalo Animal Shelter "without public input, transparency, or accountability."
At the same time, shelter volunteers and animal care professionals, the people with the most hands-on experience, were completely shut out of the planning conversation, despite repeated attempts to collaborate with the city to ensure any new facility would meet their needs.
"This is exactly the kind of unethical, pay-to-play politics that has been rotting City Hall for years," said Sen. Ryan in a statement. "Developers bankroll a candidate’s campaign, and in return, they get handed a city contract behind closed doors. That’s not leadership, it’s corruption. It’s the same old Buffalo politics, and it has to end. This is blatant corruption masquerading as some sort of incredible deal for the City of Buffalo. The media and the people of Buffalo should not be fooled. This is not normal. This is pay-to-play corruption plain and simple and it will end when I am elected mayor."
Ryan also announced on Monday he is forming the "Sean Ryan for Buffalo Animal Shelter Advisory Committee" - a group of independent experts, volunteers, and animal care professionals who will bring transparency, expertise, and community input back into the process of building a new shelter.
The new advisory committee, once formed, will help ensure Buffalo complies with the Companion Animal Care Standards Act for Shelters and Rescues, which takes effect in December 2025. Ryan voted for the legislation in Albany, which includes mandates for facility standards, staff training, and animal care protocols.
"This isn’t just about an animal shelter—it’s about how decisions get made in Buffalo," Ryan said. "Instead of cozying up to campaign donors, we need a mayor who brings in experts and listens to the people doing the work. That’s what I plan to do in every facet of government when I’m elected."
Meanwhile, Scanlon responded to Ryan's claims by stating that this process was years in the making prior to any announcement leading up to the mayoral primary in two weeks.
"While Sen. Sean Ryan will spend today talking about what’s wrong with the city and stirring emotions, during his 13 years in Albany, he hasn’t provided a single dollar or worked with the city to develop any solutions or secure state funding to support the animal shelter," Scanlon said. "Talk is easy. Leadership takes action. And that’s exactly what we’re delivering."
According to the Ryan campaign, Scanlon has accepted over $30,000 in campaign contributions from the Paladino family and their affiliated businesses, including Ellicott Development, since 2011. Ryan says this raises serious questions about conflicts of interest.
In the event he is not elected mayor, Ryan is committed to sharing the findings of the committee with whomever wins this November’s election.
Sen. Ryan says the current Oak Street shelter lacks even the most basic features of a modern facility. This includes a lack of quarantine areas for sick animals, no dedicated meeting spaces for potential adopters, and inadequate space. He adds by Scanlon failing to consult experts and dismissing volunteer feedback, the city risks repeating the same mistakes with the new facility.