The Oklahoma Humane Society will build a $40 million campus in southwest Oklahoma City, bringing its adoption center, spay and neuter clinic and animal care operations together under one roof for the first time.
The nonprofit broke ground Thursday, Nov. 5, on the 53,000-square-foot facility at 4001 SW 15th St., according to the Oklahoma Gazette. The campus will sit on 14.5 acres and include low-cost veterinary services and humane education programs.
OK Humane's operations are spread across four locations with limited room to grow, according to the organization's campaign page. The new site will also introduce on-site dog housing. OK Humane operates as a foster-based organization without overnight sheltering for dogs.
That changes with the new campus.
CEO Mark Eby told KFOR the expansion addresses real demand.
"We still have a waiting list for spay/neuter. We still have animals that need to find a home for adoptions; we have people that need our services like vet care, and this building's gonna allow us to do that and expand those services even more," Eby said.
Founded in 2007, OK Humane serves more than 30,000 animals each year, the Gazette reported. The nonprofit performs more than 20,000 spay and neuter surgeries annually and helps about 3,000 animals find adoptive homes. It works alongside Oklahoma City Animal Welfare and rescue partners statewide.
The project is privately funded through the "Unleash the Possibilities" capital campaign, which has raised more than $32 million toward its $40 million goal, KOCO reported.
Campaign co-chairs Shannon Presti of the Presti Family Foundation and Bob Ross of Inasmuch Foundation joined Eby at the groundbreaking ceremony, according to the Gazette.
"As Oklahoma City continues to grow, the resources available to animals and pet owners need to grow with it," Ross said.
Construction is expected to take about two years. The new campus is expected to open in spring 2028.
