The city’s current animal shelter, at 120 Fullerton Avenue in Yonkers, was built almost fifty years ago. At that time, the focus in the city of Yonkers, as in most communities, was animal control; the shelter was seen as a temporary holding facility for animals that were picked up off the streets.

Dogs and cats were generally held for a short period of time and if not claimed by an owner, they were often euthanized. Since adoption was not a goal of the shelter, the original building was not set up to be a comfortable and healthy facility for the animals or to show them off to potential new owners.

The current Yonkers Animal Shelter is literally a crumbling, antiquated facility that is too small, at a maximum capacity of 140 animals, for a city the size of Yonkers. Sometimes, healthy, adoptable animals must be put down to make room for the constant flow of homeless pets that arrive daily from Yonkers and nearby towns. Although the staff does its best to keep the shelter clean, the cages are cramped and the surroundings are depressing. There is no grassy area for the dogs to exercise. The cat rooms are small, with cages piled on top of one another. In this unappealing setting, it's easy to see why many people who might want to adopt a pet simply stay away.

A lot has changed in the fifty years since the original Yonkers Animal Shelter was built. Modern shelters now focus on adoption as a primary goal, and comfortable, humane living conditions for the animals are emphasized. There is ample room for dogs to exercise, and cats are often housed in group settings without cages in which they can play and socialize. Improving the living conditions of shelter animals is not only more humane; better living conditions mean the animals do not become depressed and unfriendly. As a result, these homeless pets remain healthy and adoptable.

The new Yonkers animal shelter will stand in stark contract to the existing facility. It will be nearly double the size at 14,000 sq. ft., feature an expanded kennel area with room for 50% more animals, include modern medical and exercise areas, and contain inviting public spaces that will showcase the animals for adoption.

Here's what the new Yonkers Animal Shelter will look like with your help.