Iowa City animal center needs lots of help to move

A new Iowa City animal shelter will cost about $4 million dollars to build, according to Director Misha Goodman.  That leaves the center short about $2.5 million, because FEMA and the state have only proposed about $1 million in funding.

The old location, 111 Kirkwood Ave., went under with the 2008 flood.  Since then the shelter has operated out of a much more rural Johnson County location at 4852 Sand Road S.E.  Goodman said it's important that the center be moved closer to Iowa City for a number of reasons.

“Our officers have a longer response time to citizen complaints, animals being loose, aggressive animals,” said Goodman.  “We're also farther away from volunteers.”

Last week FEMA approved funding for the proposed location on Napoleon Lane.  Goodman said after a 30-day public-comment session the center will begin fundraising efforts to make-up the $2.5 million shortcoming.

“People want to see what they're donating to,” Goodman said of the proposed location.  “We want to have that concept in place.”

The animal center plans to team up with the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation, to spearhead a fundraising campaign.  Goodman said those efforts will ramp up in the coming months.  If all goes on pace Goodman said the new center could be open within a year-and-a-half.