Construction set to start this summer on new Olathe animal shelter
Construction on Olathe’s new animal shelter could begin as early as this summer, according to city staff, as they prepare final designs for what the building will look like when it’s done.
In December , the city council passed additional funding for the project, bringing its estimated total cost to $25 million. A large portion of that cost will be for construction — around $16.5 million — according to Mike Sirna, director of quality of life for Olathe.
Sirna, a leader on the project, said the remainder of the cost will be for utilities, furnishings and indoor infrastructure, among other smaller ticket items.
The construction process could take a little over a year to complete. That puts the city moving into the new building around the fall or winter of 2027, Sirna said.
“We took a look at the shelter that we have that was built in 1988,” Sirna said. “It was absolutely the right thing at the right time. And now, some 40 years later, it’s just time… we need a bigger facility to provide those same things we did in 1988, but in the modern way that we can do it now.”
Modern animal shelter upgrades
The current shelter, 505 E. Sunvale Dr, is tucked behind the Olathe Police Department, Fire Station 1 and municipal court buildings. The cinder block building housing animals for adoption is unasuming and undetectable from main roads, including nearby Old 56 Highway.
Inside, no more than three people can comfortably stand in the lobby without bumping elbows. City spokesman Cody Kennedy said the lobby’s limited space isn’t ideal for potential pet adopters, who are introduced to cats and dogs there.
Cool florescent lights lead visitors down a hallway to the cat and dog housing spaces. More natural light is a priority in the new shelter, Kennedy said.
This week, the shelter was well under capacity, with plenty of empty cages next to the energetic dogs and playful felines.
Olathe’s new animal shelter has been marketed by city leaders as a facility that will better meet “modern animal care standards.”
The new building will be around 23,000 square feet, more than triple the size of the current shelter. It will be built on the northwest corner of Santa Fe Street and Ridgeview Road, a more well-traveled area than its current location.
More space will allow sick animals to be kept separate from healthy, adoptable animals in the shelter. Veterinary and surgical rooms are too small in the current shelter, which makes things difficult for staff and volunteers.
The city also sought ways to make the adoption process better for families. There will be new rooms for animals to meet prospective adopters and see if they are a good fit.
In addition to more kennels and capacity, the shelter will feature an expansive outdoor space where dogs can run and play. This also creates a more engaging space for volunteers, Sirna said.
The new Olathe Animal Shelter will remain a no-kill operation, meaning the shelter only administers euthanasia for animals with terminal illness or dangerous behavioral issues.
Improvements will allow the shelter to host training, education and community programs that the current building cannot accommodate.
In a phone call this week, Sirna said designs are about 99% complete.
“We think of it as almost a community center that’s an animal care facility at the same time, because it’ll be a place where we can provide training and education as well to folks — where we don’t currently have space to do that,” Sirna said.
Olathe shelter unique in Johnson County
Olathe is the only city in Johnson County that operates its own animal shelter. Sometimes non-profits or counties head animal shelters.
But in Olathe, Sirna said, residents value and expect the service. Now, it’s about providing that service in a way that fits the 2020s instead of the 1980s, he said.
Olathe manages a high volume of animals each year, and has reached capacity in the past, he said.
“We have a very passionate group of people about what they do and what they provide for the city, and those folks are extremely excited about getting a new facility and being able to modernize the service that they provide,” Sirna said.
Plans for the new shelter have taken some time to develop. The city initially began conversations about it in 2023, when the city approved the shelter upgrade as part of its 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan.
At the time, the city budgeted $15 million for the shelter. After coming against unexpected costs and opting for a new building instead of renovating the existing one, project funds were capped at $25 million.
The new shelter will be built in Olathe’s Santa Fe and Ridgeview Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. A city staff estimate said future revenues from the TIF could fund up to $2 million of the project.
Sirna said city staff settled on upgrades that aim to keep the shelter relevant and beneficial for the next 40 plus years.
“It’s going to be a great asset for the community, and I hope they’re as excited as we are about having it,” Sirna said.
This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 2:38 PM.
