Grand County’s new animal shelter threw open its doors for a grand opening on Saturday, complete with a ceremonial leash-cutting, ahead of its formal reopening to the public on October 1. The Grand County Pet Pals Animal Shelter now sits at 505 Park Lane in Granby, replacing a facility that served the county for 25 years before growth in the area forced it out.
The celebration doubled as a send-off and a welcome, with a ceremonial walk from the old shelter building to the new one marking the transition, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office. As Denver7 reports, the county held a grand opening and leash-cutting ceremony for the new shelter, with staff now moving in and setting up operations before Thursday's public opening.
Sheriff Brett Schroetlin credited the community for making the new building possible, saying its support helped bring the facility to life. He added that the project reflects what the Grand County community can accomplish by working together to care for animals, per Denver7's report.
A Sanitation District's Growth Forced the Move
The old shelter operated for a quarter century on land owned by the Granby Sanitation District, but district expansion eventually required the property back. The sanitation district extended the shelter's lease on a month-to-month basis past its original December 2025 deadline so operations could continue until the new building was finished, the county's announcement notes. Denver7 similarly reported that shelter growth in the area pushed the previous shelter out of its building.
Grand County Pet Pals signed the purchase agreement for the new site in October 2024 and broke ground on construction on May 5, 2025, according to the nonprofit's own account of the shelter build. That timeline put a brand-new facility from dirt to doors in roughly a year and a half.
Public Money and Private Fundraising Split the Load
The new arrangement splits responsibilities between government and nonprofit. Grand County Government secured a 10-year lease on the building at an annual rent of $38,400, with annual reviews tied to the Cost-of-Living Index, the sheriff's office says. The Grand County Board of County Commissioners approved a 2026 sheriff's office budget of $358,000 covering animal control, shelter personnel, and operating expenses, according to Denver7.
Day to day, the Sheriff's Office Animal Control section runs shelter and field operations with three full-time county employees, while Grand County Pet Pals handles animal care support and adoption services. That division lets public safety staff focus on field response while volunteers concentrate on pet placement, the county's announcement explains.
Fundraising for construction drew on both big philanthropy and small-town hustle. Local resort Devil's Thumb Ranch offered a $100,000 donation match in September 2025 to spur community giving, a boost highlighted by Sky-Hi News. Pet Pals needed to raise between $200,000 and $300,000 during active construction to hit its target, according to the nonprofit's shelter-build page.
Denver7 Viewers and Small Businesses Chipped In
Denver7 viewers also contributed, donating thousands of dollars to the shelter through the Denver7 Gives Foundation, the station reported. That regional campaign ran alongside grassroots efforts closer to home, including the Rotary Club of Granby's District Designated Fund grant for the project, according to the sheriff's office.
Winter Park's Big Trout Brewing pitched in too, contributing $990 in proceeds from designated craft beer sales to Grand County Pet Pals this year, the brewery notes on its site. The nonprofit also received a $5,000 license-plate grant for fiscal year 2026 from the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund to help cover veterinary care, vaccinations, and microchipping for adoptable pets.
A Busy Shelter With a High Reunion Rate
The Grand County Animal Shelter handles an average of more than 250 animals annually. In 2025, the shelter reunited 247 stray pets with their owners and processed 106 adoptions, according to Grand County Pet Pals' own figures.
The public can visit the new facility starting October 1, per both Denver7 and the sheriff's office. Anyone with a domestic animal concern can reach Grand County non-emergency dispatch at 970-725-3311 and ask for animal control.
