Learn About Our New Shelter

Riverdale Animal Shelter

Rendering provided by G Squared Design

Riverdale Animal Shelter

Riverdale Animal Shelter

Why a new shelter?

The Adams County Animal Shelter/Adoption Center (ACASAC) takes in nearly 6,500 stray, abandoned, and neglected animals per year, and provides thousands more with vaccinations and microchips. We save lives by treating injured and ill animals, reuniting lost pets with their guardians, and serving as the place many Adams County residents come to adopt their pets. 

ACASAC also plays an important role in public health and safety. In addition to vaccinating animals against disease, we work closely with the local health department and six municipalities within Adams County providing quarantine and holding services, including those for animals involved in hoarding situations. We also serve as a critical facility responsible for providing temporary shelter for animals in our community, should they become displaced due to an emergency or disaster. 

As the county’s population continues to grow, so does its animal welfare needs. From lack of adequate kennel spaces and public parking, to an undersized  health clinic that limits the number and types of procedures our veterinary team can perform, the county's animal care needs have simply outpaced the ability of our facility. The current shelter, which was retrofitted from an existing warehouse, is rapidly falling out of line with modern animal sheltering standards. Lastly, the current shelter is located in an industrial area alongside railroad tracks, which is a dangerous environment for our animals, staff, and customers. Limited visibility to the public is a constant issue, and the absence of any green space or sidewalks makes walking dogs in this area unsafe.

The future of Adams County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center:

The old days of stark and dreary pound-type structures have given way to visually attractive, well-designed, maintainable facilities, allowing for excellence in animal sheltering and an array of services to support and engage residents. The new Riverdale Animal Shelter will be more than 43,000 square feet. The state-of-the-art facility will have ample and modernized kennel spaces for cats and dogs, and additional housing for small mammals and exotics.

The expanded health clinic, improved noise abatement, and disease containment features will significantly decrease stress and illness for shelter animals and make for a better visitor experience. Additional  public parking, private adoption rooms, and a dedicated lost and found lobby will help streamline the adoption process and improve efforts to reunite more lost pets with their families. To better serve our community, a large multipurpose room will allow for more frequent public vaccination clinics, behavior support for new adopters, and humane education programs for youth to learn more about animal safety and care.

Where is the new shelter located?

The new shelter is located on the south end of the Adams County Regional Park on 120th Ave. and Park Blvd. (between Hwy 85 and Quebec St.).

Site Map

Frequently Asked Questions

To view a list of frequently asked questions, click here.

Have questions? 

Have questions? Please email us at [email protected].