Horn Lake opens new animal shelter
Photo: Animal Shelter Director Glenn Andrews cuts the ribbon to officially open the city’s new facility. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Wayward animals in Horn Lake have a much better place to be at while hoping a human will take them as a new member of their “furrever family.”
Ribbon cutting and a grand opening celebration was held Tuesday afternoon at the new Horn Lake Animal Shelter, located at 6240 Center Street. Groundbreaking for the $4.6 million facility was held in July 2024 and the land for the shelter was deeded from the DeSoto County School District to the city for $1. The deed was made with the stipulation the land would be the site for the animal shelter. The land at one time was the old Horn Lake High School football field.
“I want to thank the Board of Aldermen for funding this project,” said Mayor Allen Latimer. “Thank you citizens for paying for this project through your taxes.”
A bond issue covered the cost of construction and a group called Shelter Planners of America, based in Arlington, Texas, assisted in the design for the building. Murphy and Sons Construction led the construction of the shelter.
The Horn Lake shelter provides a front building for cats and a back building for dogs, with amenities, such as a multi-purpose room for training and dog behavior classes.
The new building aims to improve animal welfare and adaptability, enhancing the overall experience for both animals and visitors.
Animal Shelter Director Glenn Andrews said the new building is a positive step forward for the city.
“This is testimony that Horn Lake is going in a wonderfully forward direction as we change things,” Andrews said. “We become better stewards for our pets and we become better stewards for ourselves.”
Andrews believes the shelter will help make the dogs and cats housed there more adoptable.
Mayor-elect Jimmy Stokes was on hand for the grand opening and Stokes came away impressed by what was built.
“This is definitely what Horn Lake deserves,” Stokes said. “The board and Mayor Latimer did a wonderful job, so we’re just excited about it.”
A new facility has been needed in Horn Lake, as the old one became over capacity and Andrews needed to stop taking in animals temporarily last February with no room for them to be housed.
At one time, the old shelter housed 119 dogs and 80 cats with 20 additional dogs in foster homes. The average at the old shelter was 80 dogs and 20 cats. The old shelter was built in 1991.
