One of Gary’s most vulnerable communities — its animals — will welcome a new home this year after a collaboration between community partners.
Gary officials announced Thursday that the city will build a $1.4 million animal control facility to replace its deteriorating animal shelter at 625 W. Ninth Place and improve services for animals and residents. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana donated $500,000 toward the project, which the city will match with $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The remaining approximately $400,000 will come from existing Community Development Block Grant and animal shelter allocations.
“It’s a testament to the fact that when the public and private sectors partner in alignment, we can deliver real results,” Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said during a Thursday press conference.
“The reality is that the old building no longer reflects the standards that we have right here in the city of Gary,” Melton said, adding that replacing the facility has been a priority since he took office.
The new shelter will be at 950 Jefferson St., just blocks from the Gary Police Department on Polk Street.
Nearly twice the size of the current building, the facility will include administrative offices, indoor and outdoor kennels, quarantine space, and storage areas. Construction is expected to begin this summer after the city completes the bidding process for a contractor.
“Strengthening Gary has a positive impact on our entire region,” said Matt Schuffert, president and CEO of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Some Gary residents say loose dogs have forced them to change daily routines, avoiding neighborhood walks or scanning streets before stepping outside. Last year, the department handled 2,370 service calls, impounding 575 dogs and 153 cats while issuing 356 warning citations and 181 citations requiring court appearances.
“Public safety is strongest when the community works together,” Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said. “When we invest in services like animal control, we are investing in the quality of life of our neighborhoods, our families and the animals that share the city with us.”
Through partnerships such as the one with Silverstray Social, a Laporte-based nonprofit that assists officiers with rehoming, relocating, and rehabilitating found animals, officials say they hope to tackle the problem of loose animals throughout the city. They also hope to bring the region’s first no-cost veterinary clinic to Gary.
“Our vision is a Gary where every animal is treated with dignity, and every resident knows that there is a place committed to their care and protection,” Gary Animal Control Supervisor Marzilla Randolph said.
“This isn’t just about housing animals,” she said. “It’s about creating opportunities for reunions, adoptions, and a stronger partnership between our community and animal welfare.”
