(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The first major expansion of DuPage County Animal Services in 45 years got formally underway Tuesday as leaders gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony in Wheaton.
"Staff has been cramped in desks with papers stacked up, and it's hard to move around," said Brian Krajewski, DuPage County Animal Services Committee Chairman. "The hallways have had little cages with the bunnies and rabbits that are in the hallways, too, with no space."
The expansion includes more than 4,300 square feet of renovations, nearly 11,500 square feet of added enclosed spaces, and a 2,200-square-foot covered patio for outdoor training or events.
The new facility will be located next door to the current building on County Farm and Manchester roads.
"Part of the problem we had at the current facility was you would have a family for whatever reasons coming in and surrendering an animal, and at the same time, somebody walking in wanting to adopt an animal and they're all in the front lobby," Krajewski said.
Once the expansion is complete, the current building will be used exclusively for intakes, whether that's owners surrendering pets or animal services bringing in a stray.
"The new building will be where we have our animals up for adoptions," said Krajewski. "It'll have its own surgery room, where we can do some of the work there. It's got an area where we can have counseling when people come in of why they want to relinquish a dog or want to adopt it rooms that they can go into, interact with the animal, decide if they like it, if they want to adopt it."
The project will cost nearly $11 million. All of the money was raised privately through donations and through rabies vaccination fees.
Construction is expected to be complete in the fall of 2024.
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