Groundbreaking held for new Horn Lake Animal Shelter
Photo: Officials throw dirt in the symbolic groundbreaking for the new Horn Lake Animal Shelter. Completion of the $4.5 million shelter should be in April of next year. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
July 2 – At one time there was a field on Center Street in Horn Lake where the football Eagles were scoring touchdowns and making big plays. Starting in the spring of next year, that same land will see stray animals touch down for shelter and the big play will be when those same animals leave for a new “furrever” home.
Horn Lake officials Tuesday afternoon broke ground for a new $4.5 million animal shelter facility on land where the Horn Lake gridiron once stood, land donated to the City by DeSoto County Schools for the shelter.
Horn Lake Alderman Michael Guice knows the need pretty well. Guice said he was involved in animal control when he was on the police force, noting that the current shelter is badly in need of replacement.
“The old one is in bad shape and is too small for the number of animals we need to house,” Guice said.
Sonia Forgacz, Assistant Animal Shelter Director, said the current facility is far from what is needed for space.
“It was designed to hold only 40 dogs and our need at any time is about 80 dogs, so we’re looking forward to having a nice big facility to handle all of the dogs,” Forgacz said, with Shelter Director Glenn Andrews adding he is looking forward to the modernization the new facility will offer.
“This has been a long, long process,” said Mayor Allen Latimer. “The members of the Board of Aldermen have worked extremely hard to keep the cost within range but provide Horn Lake with a first class state of the art animal shelter.”
Guice said the money for the shelter comes from a bond issue to cover its cost. Latimer in particular took a moment to thank the school district for donating the land for the new shelter. Board member Jerald Wheeler was on hand for the groundbreaking.
“What’s bringing this project to fruition is this location, an absolutely ideal location,” Latimer said.
Guice said work on the shelter will start next week and is scheduled to be finished in April of next year.
