The Wisconsin Humane Society has purchased five acres of land in Mount Pleasant where it plans to build a new building to replace its Racine campus.
The Humane Society purchased the property, at 8635 Washington Ave., from Naperville, Ill.-based Illinois Property Solutions for $150,000.
The Humane Society has been in Racine County since 2013 when it acquired the former Countryside Humane Society and assumed responsibilities for animal control, animal care and adoption services for more than 4,000 animals in the county.
The Humane Society contracts with 14 municipalities, including the City of Racine, to serve those areas’ stray animals and responds to the request of law enforcement in cases of hoarding and/or neglect where emergency services are needed.
The current 7,500-square-foot building at 2706 Chicory Road, was originally constructed as a potato barn and despite upgrades to the facility over the years, it lacks the space for veterinary care, behavior evaluations, appropriate housing and community services, Speed said.
A 1,000-square-foot heated trailer has been added to the property to house cat overflow.
The new building planned at the Mt. Pleasant site will be about 16,000 square feet.
The Humane Society is working on with the Kubala Washatko Architects, of Cedarburg and Gilbane Building Company on plans for the site, said Angela Speed, vice president of communications. The Humane Society is hoping to break ground in 2017.
Kubala Washatko designed the $6 million Ozaukee campus that opened in March 2011.
“We’re still in the planning phases of the project but we will be doing a capital campaign,” Speed said.
The Ozaukee Campus was fully paid for through donations.
