Directors of the Healdsburg Animal Shelter announced Monday that after more than 50 years of operation, the facility will be closing its doors by the end of the month.

Directors of the troubled Healdsburg Animal Shelter are appealing to the public for donations to keep the 53-year-old facility operating.

Healdsburg Animal Shelter officials on Monday will provide an update on their operation to the City Council, capping a turbulent year in an organization rife with staff turnover and resignations on the board of directors. Despite work being halted indefinitely on its $3.5 million new shelter, mired in a lawsuit alleging construction defects, shelter officials say things have improved.

Directors of the Healdsburg Animal Shelter are pinning their hopes on a lawsuit to collect the money to fix or rebuild their empty $3.5 million facility, which has been plagued by construction and design defects.
But they estimate it will take 18 months to two years to resolve the litigation and collect any funds, and perhaps another year after that to repair, or possibly dismantle and rebuild, the structure on Westside Road.
In the meantime, the cramped 52-year-old shelter across the road will continue to handle strays, and dogs and cats awaiting adoption.

Beleaguered directors of the Healdsburg Animal Shelter assured the City Council Monday that while they face difficult challenges finishing a new $3.5 million building it will be a state-of-the-art shelter for ‘contemporary animal care.’