ENCINITAS, Calif. — The Rancho Coastal Humane Society is tackling its biggest expansion project ever. In this Zevely Zone, I visited the animal shelter in Encinitas that first opened in 1960. Some people chip away at a remodeling project and others take the biggest bite possible.
The large project is expected to take 18 to 24 months from groundbreaking to completion. "This is our North Campus here. We are building three different structures," said Judi Sanzo, President and CEO of Rancho Coastal Humane Society.
Puppies are known for making a mess, but the animal shelter's construction crew is really doing a number.
"Yes, we are sure doing a number," said Judi as she gave me a tour of the construction.
She is the commanding general of this expansion project, which is fitting, her father 101-year-old Army veteran Pete Sanzo stormed the beaches of Normandy and that's not all.
"My father was a plumber a journeyman plumber by trade when he was a young man," said Judi. Which means, she knows how a construction project can run wild.
"Not this project. I think I am going to come in on time and on budget," said Judi.
For years the campus was known for its little yellow house. Encinitas grew up around them, but now it's time for the shelter to step into the future and dream big. With a fourteen-million-dollar budget, the shelter is about to get supersized.
"We will have over ten thousand feet of new construction," said Judi. "All three of these buildings will have solar panels. For the first time we will actually have a conference room where the board can actually meet. We expect to be done with this project by the end of the summer."
The Veterinary Medical Center will be more than 5,000 square feet and offer a dedicated space for our Animal Safehouse Program. The new Learning Center will be more than 2,000 square feet, with capacity to gather more than 200 people. · The RCHS Community Pet Food Bank will grow to 770 square feet.
Believe it or not, it's still business as usual at Rancho Coastal. They're still offering adoptions and taking care of animals like Toga. "When they go home there isn't a dry eye in the place, everybody is crying tears of joy and excitement that they found their forever family," said Judi.
The project really has gone to dogs, cats and rabbits because it's all for them. For more information, to make a donation, or to learn about sponsorship and naming opportunities, click here.