St. Paul's Animal Humane Society Won't Reopen Due To Pandemic, Aging Facility
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A St. Paul animal shelter is closing its doors for good due to the pandemic.
The Animal Humane Society (AHS) announced its location on Beulah Lane near Como Regional Park will not reopen. It has been closed since March due to COVID-19, and any animals that had been at that location were moved to other Animal Humane Society locations.
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The organization says it would be too difficult to renovate the 70-year-old building to keep the staff safe.
"In truth, the St. Paul shelter had become functionally obsolete even before COVID-19 struck, and we've been actively working on a plan to replace it for several years. We can no longer wait," AHS said.
AHS says a new full-service veterinary center will be opening on University Avenue in St. Paul.
"In addition, we're in the early stages of a capital campaign to support the construction of a new adoption and animal care campus that will allow us to shift services back to St Paul. Today's decision will bring new urgency to that effort," AHS said.
Four people were laid off Monday. Its other employees will remain furloughed until jobs at other locations open up.
