Clark County Approves $3M Temporary Shelter to Address Animal Overcrowding

The new facility is intended to provide short-term relief as officials pursue a permanent $39 million shelter complex.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Clark County leaders have approved $3 million for a temporary animal shelter at Silver Bowl on Russell Road and Boulder Highway, with construction expected to begin this spring. The facility is intended to provide short-term relief to overcrowded Las Vegas-area shelters once work gets underway later this year.

Why it matters

The Animal Foundation, the region's only open-admission shelter, reported taking in about 29,000 animals in 2025, an 11% increase over 2024. Dog surrenders rose about 15%, cat surrenders increased 25%, and intake of other animals climbed 44%. The combined investments in temporary and permanent facilities are expected to gradually reverse overcrowding in the coming years.

The details

The temporary shelter will serve as a stopgap while county officials pursue a permanent $39 million, 45,000-square-foot supplemental shelter complex near Tropicana Avenue and the 215 Beltway. That project is planned to open by 2028 to address long-term capacity pressures. Design work for the Silver Bowl site will be led by Animal Arts to ensure efficient planning.

  • Construction on the temporary shelter is expected to begin this spring.
  • The permanent $39 million shelter complex is planned to open by 2028.

The players

The Animal Foundation

The region's only open-admission shelter, which reported taking in about 29,000 animals in 2025, an 11% increase over 2024.

Animal Arts

The design firm that will lead the design work for the temporary Silver Bowl shelter site.

Homeward Bound

A local rescue organization that has noted overcrowding and limited space, and at times is unable to take in animals.

Hearts Alive Village

A local rescue organization that has noted overcrowding and limited space, and at times is unable to take in animals.

Nevada Animal Shelter Society

A local rescue organization that has noted overcrowding and limited space, and at times is unable to take in animals.

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What’s next

Part of the overall strategy will have a law enforcement piece and expanded adoptions.

The takeaway

The temporary and permanent shelter investments, along with design input from Animal Arts, are expected to gradually reverse the overcrowding issues that local animal shelters and rescues have been facing in recent years.