Aurora's long-running push to replace its aging animal shelter is finally moving from talk to action, with city documents pegging the new facility at roughly $51.3 million and targeting a summer start for construction and a 2028 opening. The planned building would span about 38,000 square feet, shelter up to 250 animals, and add veterinary, isolation, and improved indoor-outdoor spaces next to the existing structure. Officials say the project is meant to bring the shelter into compliance with state standards and relieve chronic overcrowding that has squeezed services and limited intakes.
What the new center will include
Design plans call for separate wings for adoptable animals and court-hold cases, expanded veterinary and isolation suites, and more room for volunteers and staff to work without constantly bumping elbows. The added indoor-outdoor access is intended to reduce stress on animals while giving staff more efficient daily workflows. These specifics, including the roughly 38,000-square-foot footprint, appear in Aurora documents reviewed by Sentinel Colorado.
Why officials say it’s urgent
City leaders and shelter staff say the current facility, converted from an impound site in the 1980s, routinely runs about 90 to 95 percent full and has just over 60 dog kennels, which has forced intake pauses and transfers to neighboring shelters. Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky warned the city was "on the verge of losing our PACFA status," a move that could jeopardize the shelter's ability to operate, as intake totals have climbed sharply in recent years. Denver7 reported that the shelter took in roughly 2,265 animals in 2020 and about 3,417 in 2024, underscoring the capacity crunch.
Timeline, site and official notes
The city says it is in the design phase for a state-of-the-art replacement and expects the new shelter to open to the public in 2028. Aurora's municipal site lists the existing Aurora Animal Shelter at 15750 E. 32nd Ave and directs residents to project updates, volunteer opportunities, and donation pages as planning continues. The city's official project information is available at AuroraGov.
Funding and costs
Aurora documents reviewed by reporters place the total project cost at about $51,360,000, funded through a mix of federal pandemic relief dollars, city capital funds, impact fees, and roughly $27 million to be financed through certificates of participation. The new shelter is planned for a city-owned parcel adjacent to the current facility near East 32nd Avenue and Chambers Road, with officials still aiming for a 2028 public opening if the schedule holds. Those figures are detailed by Sentinel Colorado, which reviewed Aurora's project documents.
Regional strain and next steps
Partners across metro Denver report that overcrowding is not just Aurora's problem. The Metro Denver Animal Welfare Alliance cites significant increases in owner surrenders and stray impounds at major area shelters, which have added pressure to Aurora's operations. The city council calendar shows a March 23 meeting and study-session week where officials planned to brief councilmembers on project progress, and the municipal site continues to point residents toward volunteer and donation options if they want to pitch in. For regional context, see the Metro Denver Animal Welfare Alliance, and for meeting dates, consult the city's council calendar.
