Hamden – The Town of Hamden announced that it is collaborating with the City of New Haven on exploring the potential of expanding and renovating the City of New Haven’s current animal shelter as a possible regional animal shelter. The two communities have launched a working group of senior administration staff and members of both police departments to review and consider a regional animal shelter shared between the two municipalities. Currently, the Town of Hamden has access to space at the North Haven Animal Shelter and is seeking a longer-term solution for housing unwanted pets and strays.

Mayor Lauren Garrett committed to proposing a site for the animal shelter within the first 100 days of her new administration. Early at the start of Mayor Garrett’s term, she began discussions with the City of New Haven on this possible regional collaboration. The working group has had several conversations and are awaiting the cost-outs of the proposed combined services between the communities. The goal is to identify a permanent site for the Town of Hamden to properly manage former pets that owners can no longer care for, and stray animals that could be harmed if left on the streets.

The project being explored would involve a physical expansion and renovation of the City of New Haven’s current animal shelter on 81 Fournier Street, which is located in close proximity to the border of Hamden.

Mayor Lauren Garrett comments, “I am pleased with the direction of these discussions. A regional renovated facility will create a long term solution for our animals without a much larger investment of constructing a facility of our own.” 

Mayor Justin Elicker added, “Our two communities have been discussing this exciting possibility of a shared, regionalized municipal service. I have been a strong proponent of regionalization of services to both mitigate costs and provide better services to residents, and this potential project aims to do both. While we are still exploring and have outstanding important issues to work through, I’m optimistic.”

We would like to recognize the dedicated activists and volunteers at Gimme Shelter for their determination, commitment, and continued advocacy for animals over several years.

For further information, please contact Deputy Chief of Staff, Alexa M. Panayotakis, at (203) 287-7009 or by email at apanayotakis@hamden.com.