Goals & Impact
Why Are We Moving?
MEOW’s Prospective Relocation, Mid-Year Update
MEOW’s Prospective Relocation, Mid-Year Update
Posted on August 11, 2025
Although there still isn’t much to report yet, we want to keep you in the loop and give you an update since it’s been a while. We continue to explore our relocation options, and one property in particular, but things always take longer than expected.
We are working with the owners, our realtor, and local building consultants to determine if the space will work for everyone. If this takes shape, we will be excited to share a timeline and details about MEOW’s new home.
MEOW is secure in our space for the next several months, and possibly beyond. We are committed to continuing to serve our Eastside community and staying close to our volunteers, supporters, community partners, adopters, and local companion animals.
Future of the Houghton Village Property
with Respect to Our Shelter
Future of the Houghton Village Property
with Respect to Our Shelter
Posted on January 15, 2025
In 2022, the City of Kirkland purchased the Houghton Village Shopping Center, where MEOW has been a tenant for 20 years, to redevelop the property.
The City is still in the phase of seeking input on how to best develop the space, and the future uses of the property. A timeline for development has not yet been communicated.
What does this mean for MEOW? We are secure in our space for the time being, though while waiting to hear more, we are being proactive about identifying all of our options. There may be a place for us in the redevelopment, or we will find a new location that allows us to continue to care for each precious life.
We are committed to continuing to serve our Eastside community and staying close to our volunteers, supporters, community partners, adopters, and local companion animals.
The Vision for Our New Facility
A new animal shelter is necessary in order for Homeward Bound Pets to house animals in a healthy, low stress environment. This is especially crucial for animals that come to us needing longer stays and extensive rehabilitation for medical or behavioral reasons.
Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient shelter that provides animals with room to exercise, proper temperature control and ventilation, lots of natural light, noise control, and areas that welcome the public and potential adopters. Our staff, our volunteers, the community, and most importantly the animals will all benefit from having a healthier, safer, and low stress environment.
The Plan
The new building layout will have sixteen separate cat rooms that will each house three to nine cats. Each room will have an attached catio, allowing our cats to safely enjoy the fresh air.
The food prep and laundry areas will move from the administration building to the main cat building. Staff will no longer need to spend time walking between buildings, ensuring their time is better spent caring for our sanctuary residents.
The new layout will also accommodate an adoption area, making it easier for potential adopters to spend time with cats, enhancing adoption opportunities. We believe the adoption process should be a joyful and fully supported experience!
Benefits Of A New Shelter
The new building will be a permanent home for our organization that doubles the current space, increases efficiency, and enhances the shelter and adoption experience for pets and their future families.
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for temperature control and clean, odor-free and uncontaminated air throughout the animal housing areas
- Floors sloped to individual drains, eliminating trench drains that are difficult to clean and cause cross-contamination
- Double compartments and movable doors, allowing dogs to eliminate away from their beds, food, and water
- A large outdoor dog run providing safe and spacious area or friendly dog play and daily
exercise - Kennels arranged to prevent dogs from seeing each other, thereby reducing barking and stress
- Kennels acoustically designed to absorb
sound - Two isolation kennels for quarantined dogs
- Two bright and spacious indoor “get acquainted” pet adoption areas allowing for private and positive interactions between dogs and potential adopters
- Three free roam catteries with adjustable lighting to create a warm, low-stress atmosphere
- A welcoming lobby for guests; conference and training room, storage rooms, kitchen, and offices for staff and volunteers
- Licensing & Redemption Office easily accessible in the lobby
The new shelter will mean our animals will be healthier, increasing adoptions and decreasing medical expenses. Maintenance costs will decrease, allowing HBpets to spend more money where it will have the most impact – helping animals! Staff will be happier and volunteer numbers will increase as a result of a cleaner, safer environment.
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The Timeline & Budget
We’re Raising $750K for a New Shelter!
All donations raised through our capital campaign will fund our three phase rebuild, beginning June 2023. In anticipation of Phase 1 of our remodel, we are raising $700K.
The remodel will allow us to better meet the needs of the community and animals in our care and will align our rescue with UC Davis’ Capacity for Care” (C4C)recommendations for shelter management.
We hope you will join us in our Capital Campaign to ensure the future of We Care Animal Rescue and its residents!
Timeline
Early 2026
Secure New Building
June/July 2026
Finalize Remodel Plans
December 2026
Finish Remodel
Early 2027
Move to new shelter!!!
Budget
$350K+
Remodel Costs
$100K+
Equipment & Furnishing
$200K+
Moving Costs
$100K+
Extra Lease Costs
Naming Opportunities
Leave a Lasting Legacy
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we must rely on the generosity of individuals, businesses, foundations, and community partners for support of this necessary but expensive undertaking. HBPets is excited and honored to invite donors who wish to be a part of building this new shelter to invest in our care of the community’s most vulnerable pets.
You can leave a lasting legacy and further our mission “to improve the lives of cats and dogs through adoption and community partnerships” by investing in our capital campaign. HBPets offers many giving levels for you to help us build a new shelter for all the lost, abandoned, surrendered, and neglected cats and dogs that come to us every day.
These naming opportunities will allow you to place your business, personal, or honorary name in a designated space in the new animal shelter and adoption center. All donations for the capital campaign of $20,000 or more will be given special recognition at the entrance to the shelter in a permanent display of “founders” when the new facility is completed. In addition, HBPets will publicly thank and honor those who support this campaign and help us build this desperately needed shelter.
Reserve your room or area by donating 20% of the total and pledging the remainder!
If you would like to secure naming rights*, please contact Joni Cervenka, Board President at xxx@meowcatrescue.org.
*The Board of Directors Executive Committee has the discretion to approve or decline naming rights on behalf of MEOW Cat Rescue.
We Need Your Help!
Please help us reach our goal to build a new shelter and office building. With your support, together we can help save countless dogs and cats that would otherwise be left behind.
FOR SMALL DONATIONS
For donations under $10,000
FOR MAJOR DONATIONS
For donations over $10,000
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