The City of Evanston and Cook County Celebrate Grand Opening of State-of-the-Art Animal Shelter
The new animal shelter addresses regional overcrowding while providing housing for animals impounded by
Cook County’s Department of Animal and Rabies Control
Evanston, IL — Today, the City of Evanston and Cook County, proudly celebrated the grand opening of the newly constructed Evanston Animal Shelter at 2310 Oakton Street. County officials, City staff, members of the Evanston Animal Shelter Association (EASA) Board and other elected officials gathered to mark this significant milestone in the City and County’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare, sustainability and community partnerships.
Since 2015, the City of Evanston and EASA have worked together to serve Evanston’s animals, with the City owning and maintaining the shelter’s building and EASA operating it as a no-kill, open-admission facility. The new shelter strengthens this partnership and enhances the City’s ability to provide care for animals in need.
The event featured remarks from Mayor Daniel Biss, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Evanston Animal Shelter Executive Director Vicky Pasenko, Cook County Commissioners Josina Morita, Bridget Degnen and Maggie Trevor and State Representative Robyn Gabel. Each speaker highlighted the collaboration that brought the new facility to life and emphasized its significant role in serving animals and the community.
“This facility will allow us to care for more animals in need while also enabling us to meet our green energy goals and set a new standard for future City projects,” said Mayor Daniel Biss. “It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we come together as a community."
“The County’s contribution to help build this new facility ensures animals found throughout the County continue to have a safe and comfortable environment while waiting to find their forever family,” said President Preckwinkle. “The County is grateful for our partnership with the City of Evanston and EASA, whose new facility will help County pets and residents for decades to come.”
The 8,800-square-foot facility was made possible by $2.85 million in funding through Cook County Animal and Rabies Control’s Housing Cook County’s Animals grant program, along with significant contributions from the City of Evanston and EASA, to reach the total estimated construction cost of $7.2 million. Housing Cook County’s Animals grant program was funded by Cook County residents who paid a small fee to have their dog or cat vaccinated against rabies through the County.
The state-of-the-art building includes amenities such as a medical suite, isolation areas for sick animals, outdoor dog runs, and more. Notably, it is Evanston’s first zero on-site carbon emissions building, designed with LEED certification and future solar panel installation in mind.
Vicky Pasenko, Executive Director of the Evanston Animal Shelter, said, "This new facility will finally give our animals the space they deserve while allowing us to expand our community programs, including volunteer opportunities and education initiatives. We’re excited for what this means for Evanston’s future."
Attendees were treated to a ceremonial “dog treat breaking,” where officials symbolically broke a giant bone-shaped cookie provided by Bennison's Bakery to commemorate the occasion. The event also featured an appearance from Zeus, a rescue dog from the Evanston Animal Shelter, who has his own Instagram account, @zeus_wiggles.
The new facility will significantly enhance th shelter’s capacity to house and care for animals, with over 20 kennels for dogs, colony rooms for cats, adoption rooms and space for in-house medical procedures.
The Evanston Animal Shelter will host a public Open House on Sunday, October 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. and will officially open to the public for adoptions on Saturday, October 12.
For more information about the Evanston Animal Shelter and its services, visit evanstonanimalshelter.net or call/text 847-866-5082. Evanston residents may also dial 3-1-1 for additional information.
About the Evanston Animal Shelter
The Evanston Animal Shelter, operated by the Evanston Animal Shelter Association (EASA), is a no-kill, open-admission shelter that serves approximately 350 to 550 animals annually. EASA is dedicated to providing` compassionate care for homeless and unwanted animals, offering adoption services, and supporting community education programs.
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