Second Chances: Shelter Expansion

The Alliston & District Humane Society (ADHS) is thrilled to announce that construction is officially underway on our long-awaited Second Chances: Shelter Expansion as of June 9, 2025. Shovels are in the ground, and the future is bright for the thousands of animals we serve every year.

This transformative expansion will double the size of our existing facility and include critical new spaces: a dedicated cat area, exam rooms, an isolation unit, an exercise room, more dog kennels, increased intake capacity, and a multi-purpose community room. These additions are essential to better meet the needs of vulnerable animals in South Simcoe and surrounding areas.

Over the years, ADHS has simply outgrown our current shelter. Our community room—meant for public events—is now filled with overflow animals. Foster homes are at full capacity. Waitlists for surrenders continue to grow. With more animals being abandoned, surrendered, or found lost than ever before, the need to expand is urgent and unavoidable.

Each year, ADHS takes in hundreds of dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals. Many have been neglected, are struggling with medical or behavioural issues, or are simply victims of circumstance. As a no-kill shelter, we are proud to be the safe haven of choice for animals in need—not only in our region, but increasingly from beyond our borders.

Animals thrive in environments where they feel safe and comfortable. The goal of the Second Chances: Shelter Expansion is to reduce stress, speed up adoption, and give every animal the best chance at a new beginning. It will also allow us to restore vital programs in animal welfare education, especially for children and families.

Construction, managed by Bertram Construction of Barrie, will continue through January 2026. The expansion will take place on the north side of the current facility and will represent a major leap forward in our mission to protect, care for, and rehome animals in need.

Sylvester the cat dropped by the meeting with architects Roy and Becki from ISM Architects to give his opinion on the needs of his feline friends in the new expansion! He was happy to consult with the designers but hopes to be gone to his furever home before the construction begins.

Alliston & District Humane Society (ADHS) has been helping lost, abandoned and abused animals since 1988. For three and half decades, thousands and thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals have received food, shelter, medical care, compassion, and ultimately found their forever homes because of the love and dedication of our incredibly devoted volunteers. 

Our shelter, first built in 2010, has served us well over the years. But we outgrew our current facilities years ago, and we are now bursting at the seams. As the region’s only no-kill shelter, we can only take in as many animals as we have space for, and we find ourselves in the incredibly difficult position of having to turn away animals in need. As animal lovers, this goes against everything we stand for and it’s the reason why we so urgently need your help today.

To meet the demand, we are launching the SECOND CHANCES: Shelter Expansion Capital Campaign to renovate and repair our existing shelter and expand our facility to care for more animals, grow our education and outreach programs and fund daily operation costs.

In total, we need to raise $4 million dollars through this campaign. We’re thrilled to share that $1.5 million has already been generously donated through a legacy gift from Susan Robbins. And with our community’s support, we can raise the additional $2.5 million needed to renovate our facility and build and operate a major expansion, where we aim to double the size of today’s shelter, with a dedicated cat area, exam rooms, a community room, isolation area, a small animal area, exercise room and additional intake space.

This is an exciting time for ADHS. We’re beyond grateful to have received such an incredible gift to launch this campaign, but we need your help to keep momentum going to get shovels in the ground in 2024. Please join with us today to build a better shelter for thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits and small animals, in our community – now and for years to come.