Driving the news: As part of his 2025 budget proposal, Mayor Joe Hogsett has suggested that the shelter should become its own department, rather than a subdivision of the Business and Neighborhood Services department (BNS).
Hogsett has also proposed a $1 million increase in the shelter's budget to promote current employees, add more staff and to fully fund a professional kennel cleaning service.
Flashback: The shelter's conditions and policies became a flashpoint during last year's mayoral race after animal welfare advocates sent a letter to Hogsett, the City-County Council and BNS detailing what they described as a "crisis" at the shelter.
Hogsett's Republican challenger, Jefferson Shreve, said the city was moving too slowly on building the new shelter.
The latest: After pulling back from initial plans to build at Sherman Park, the city broke ground on the new shelter in June at 5001 East Raymond St. on the city's southeast side.
The new facility, which will be more than double the size of IACS' current Harding Street shelter, is expected to open early next year.
What they're saying: The new facility has served as an impetus to look at other ways for the shelter to grow, said BNS director Abbey Brands.
