Maricopa County Animal Care & Control will open a new 84,000 square-foot East Valley Animal Care Center to the public on May 2 in Mesa.

The shelter at 1920 S. Lewis has 346 kennels and 21 yards and will replace the county’s old East Valley animal shelter at Loop 101 and Rio Salado Parkway, which is scheduled to close permanently April 22.

“For years, the team at Animal Care & Control has worked hard to move the new East Valley Animal Care Center across the finish line and the completed facility is truly outstanding,” Chairman Jack Sellers, who represents District 1 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said in a release. “The County will now be better prepared to serve the animals who enter our care and find them safe and loving long-term homes.”

The shelter was designed to put animal health and well-being first and is aligned with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians Standards of Care Guidelines to provide a better overall experience for dogs, staff, volunteers, and the public.

Regular business hours are noon-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Special activities will be held for the public during the “Unleashing Our Potential” grand opening on Saturday, May 4.

For more information, go to maricopa.gov/6043/New-East-Valley-Animal-Care-Center.

“East Valley residents have been requesting an updated facility for years and they will soon be able to reap the many benefits of this modern and spacious campus,” Vice Chairman Thomas Galvin, District 2, said in the release. “This new shelter will boost employee morale, improve staff and volunteer recruitment and retention, and make dogs feel more comfortable while in MCACC’s care.”

The shelter was designed to include smaller groupings of kennels that have indoor and outdoor access and a large, angled layout that prevents overstimulation, keeps dogs relaxed and lowers noise levels. The campus also has a yard with enrichment activities, a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, and a separate clinic isolation area to proactively stop the spread of disease.

“In 2023, MCACC served more than 16,000 pets, and in 2024, we are on track to serve just as many, if not more,” MCACC Director Debbie McKnight said in the release. “This new facility will make a drastic difference in the quality of care our staff and volunteers can provide. We look forward to welcoming the public and helping families find their new furry family members.”

MCACC is a municipal shelter that is committed to finding positive outcomes for all animals who enter the shelter, while also providing resources for pet owners in Maricopa County. More than 20,000 animals have arrived at MCACC since January 2023 and more than 13,000 were adopted into their forever homes, a little over 2,000 were transferred to dedicated rescue organizations, and 2,300 were returned to their owners. MCACC maintains an average 95% save rate.