Maricopa County leaves 'substandard' animal shelter site for $43M Mesa facility

Maricopa County officials opened the doors of a new animal shelter on Wednesday, replacing an outdated facility in a move that could mark a new page for the historically troubled department. The brand-new, $43 million building features larger kennels, more play areas, a large veterinary clinic and quarantine capabilities. It is designed to appeal to potential adopters, eschewing rows of wire kennels under florescent lightbulbs for glass-doored enclosures in small pods that are arranged to let in natural light and decrease noise and other stressors. Located at Baseline Road and...