A newly renovated building owned by the Animal Care Society is the first part of a multi-phase expansion for the eastern Louisville nonprofit.
The organization has long operated from 12207 Westport Road in Worthington Hills, making do with a 1987 building that has been "creatively adapted," said executive director Jason Wetherington.
That 3,000-square-foot building was built with eight dog kennels and two cat rooms on 1.25 acres. Small additions over the years have added space and repurposing of a conference room has allowed for more kennels.
Still, the need is greater than the available room. "Cat condos" are staged in hallways. Administrative space is lacking.
"We're always at capacity, as with most rescues everywhere," Wetherington said.
Now marking its 40th year in operation, the society has embarked on proper expansion, one that should allow it to double the number of animals in its care and provide additional services and space for its operations.
"A project like this comes along in the life of an organization once in a generation, and we're at that point in the life of Animal Care Society where a baton is being passed from our founders to this next generation of leadership," said Wetherington, who stepped into his role in the summer of 2023.
Recent land acquisitions have grown the campus to just under 5 acres, and two additional buildings are planned for the expansion effort.
The first of those buildings is an existing structure, formerly Rootie's Sports Bar and Grille, which is undergoing a complete repurposing and renovation.
The renovated 5,200-square-foot building will become the society's main adoption center and "cat corral."
Cats and dogs are currently housed in the same building, but will soon have their own dedicated space, Wetherington said.
"We'll be able to give them peaceful respite from the dogs," he said.
The space will also hold administrative offices, a conference room, a volunteer training space, a medical exam and intake room, a dedicated laundry for cat linens, and a kitchen for meal prep.
The privately funded, no-kill shelter estimates it has served some 200,000 cats and dogs since its inception in 1984 and has matched over 17,000 animals with their "forever home."
The society was originally moving forward with plans to build a new, larger facility about one mile away on Collins Lane.
It had purchased the land and drawn up construction plans when a few key pieces fell into place much closer to the long-standing shelter, leading to a pivot in the growth plans.
The society was able to buy a vacant parcel to the east in 2022, more than doubling its acreage.
Then, when the restaurant site to the west became available in late 2023, the nonprofit bought the property for $1.35 million, deed records show.
Renovation work on the site began in April 2024, and Wetherington said he anticipates it opening by late November.
After the renovated building opens this fall, the next phase of the expansion will be a new dog kennel facility situated between the original building and the main adoption center.
The nonprofit has 24 kennels right now, and the new building should be able to at least double if not triple that count.
The new kennels will have solid walls between them and be more spaced out, helping to reduce stress.
Lastly, the 1987 building will be turned into a veterinary clinic -- a new offering for the organization.
The organization hopes to have the other buildings built and renovated in the next year.
The expansion is being funded by lead gifts for a $2.5 million capital campaign, which is set to launch formally later this year.
Meanwhile, the previously purchased vacant lot is already in use. Now fenced and cleared of brush, it's providing a space for community events as well as training for the general public and adopters with a new full-time training and behavioral specialist.
The physical expansion and growth in services are also coinciding with a re-thinking of who the nonprofit serves, Wetherington said, broadening to include other rescues, particularly smaller groups.
He hopes for greater collaboration and support among similarly aligned groups.
"At the end of the day, anything we can do as an organization to strengthen our community and strengthen animal welfare and services that we can offer, that's why we're here," he said.