The Roice-Hurst Humane Society officially opened a significant 3,000-square-foot campus expansion at its 362 28 Road location on Thursday, Sept. 10. The unveiling, which included a community open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony, follows more than six months of construction and represents over $600,000 in community investments. This expansion aims to better serve the growing needs of pets and pet lovers in Mesa County, offering enhanced veterinary services and a more welcoming environment for residents.
According to Roice-Hurst CEO Zebulon Miracle, the new annex will allow the local nonprofit to meet increasing demands while fostering a more welcoming, efficient, and dignified setting. Miracle stated that while construction was just completed, the organization plans a rapid transition to full operations, with future attention slated for upgrades to the existing shelter building to continually provide the best for animals and the community.
A key component of the expansion, now dubbed the Animal Care Campus, is a new brick-and-mortar veterinary clinic. This facility is equipped with two operating tables, a wet table, three anesthesia machines, new autoclaves for surgical sanitizing, and a dental X-ray. While the clinic will primarily be used for spay-and-neuter services, Miracle noted it will also treat major health concerns for shelter animals, preparing them for adoption.
The expansion directly addresses a critical need for increased spay-and-neuter capacity. Historically, Roice-Hurst has supported access to these services through vouchers for local veterinarians and a mobile veterinary clinic, which performs an average of 900 surgeries each year. However, Miracle observed an “explosion” in the number of stray pets in recent years. “We will never build enough kennels, so we need to do everything we can to get on top of overpopulation,” Miracle said, explaining that the new facility provides the necessary room to expand these services. Roice-Hurst Resource Advancement Officer Leigh Ashman emphasized the importance of this work, stating that nearly 900 sterilized pets from last year alone could prevent an estimated 1,700 to 2,600 animals from potentially becoming strays or entering a shelter.
Beyond the veterinary clinic, the Animal Care Campus includes two additional buildings created from renovated construction trailers. Miracle explained that the organization prioritized making the non-veterinarian aspect of the project “the cheapest part,” despite significant efforts to aesthetically refurbish them. The larger, double-wide trailer now functions as the organization’s new lobby, designed to significantly improve the experience for visitors. Miracle highlighted the contrast with the previous, smaller lobby, noting that the new space includes private office areas for sensitive conversations. This design aims to provide privacy for individuals making the difficult decision to surrender an animal, separating them from those experiencing the joy of adoption.
The new lobby building also features a dedicated space for volunteers and a room stocked with pet supplies, offering easy access and minimal cost for Roice-Hurst foster families. The second renovated trailer houses administrative offices, which Miracle stated would improve efficacy and communication, as administrative staff previously worked in a separate downtown location.
All three new buildings are connected by a spacious deck, complemented by picnic tables in front of the stairs and ramp. Miracle expressed a vision for the expanded campus to serve as a casual community gathering space for pet lovers, with future plans for turf. He hopes to transform the perception of the shelter from a sad or infrequent destination to a place where the community can celebrate pets, envisioning events like food trucks, concerts, a “pet talk” lecture series, and even yoga with shelter pets.
Looking ahead, the organization is also planning upgrades to the older, existing shelter building. Part of this effort is already underway, with funding from the Grand Junction Lions Club supporting a revamp of the existing shelter’s yard and the construction of two new showing yards, where potential adopters can meet animals. Miracle credited local funders, including the Western Colorado Community Foundation and Storm’s Specialty Services, as critical to realizing the nonprofit's vision.
