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Newport Beach, Friends of Newport Beach Animal Shelter breaks ground on new shelter

Officials and dignitaries of the new Newport Beach Animal Shelter celebrate with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Officials and dignitaries of the new Newport Beach Animal Shelter celebrate with a groundbreaking ceremony for the project on Thursday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
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The Newport Beach Animal Shelter is one step closer to becoming a reality, following a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday that officially kicks off construction of the $3-million permanent animal shelter.

The shelter is slated for completion in summer 2023.

Newport Beach does not currently have a permanent animal shelter. The city largely contracted out its services to providers, including the Orange County Humane Society, before it eventually authorized the usage of an existing residential kennel on Riverside Drive for a temporary animal shelter operated by the city’s animal control.

Animal Control Supervisor Valerie Schomberg laughs with guests at the Newport Beach Animal Shelter.
Animal Control Supervisor Valerie Schomberg laughs with guests while holding “Officer Bubbles” during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Newport Beach Animal Shelter on Thursday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
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The permanent shelter will be located nearby, at 20282 Riverside. Purchase of the property and construction was paid for by the Friends of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter, who raised about $2.7 million with only $350,000 remaining as of last week to complete construction and begin operations at the site.

Once completed, it will be donated to the city of Newport Beach.

The new facility is expected to include a 1,565-square-foot, single-story shelter and a 755-square-foot kennel that can house up to 29 dogs. It will also have four parking spaces in the front yard, new gates and fencing, adequate drainage and other improvements.

It will also be a no-kill shelter.

President John Langford and Robyn Grant of the Friends of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter.
President John Langford and Robyn Grant, of the Friends of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter, raise their shovels in salute during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Newport Beach Animal Shelter on Thursday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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