Hamden, New Haven Working On Possible Regional Animal Shelter

HAMDEN, CT — Hamden and New Haven are exploring the possible expansion and renovation of New Haven’s current animal shelter as a potential regional animal shelter, officials announced Tuesday.

Officials said 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,” according to a news release.

Hamden currently has access to space at the North Haven Animal Shelter and is seeking a longer-term solution for housing unwanted pets and strays.

Hamden 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,” according to a news release from Garrett’s office. “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 New Haven’s current animal shelter on 81 Fournier Street, which is near the Hamden border.

“I am pleased with the direction of these discussions,” Garrett said in a statement. “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.”

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the 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,” Elicker said. “While we are still exploring and have outstanding important issues to work through, I’m optimistic.”

Garrett recognized the “dedicated activists and volunteers at Gimme Shelter for their determination, commitment, and continued advocacy for animals over several years.”