The Bullhead City Council ceremoniously began the project in the front lobby of the future Bullhead Animal Resource Center. From left to right: Bullhead City Councilwoman Grace Hecht, Bullhead City Vice Mayor Dan Alfonzo, Bullhead City Councilman Juan Lizzaraga, Bullhead City Mayor Steve D’Amico, Bullhead City Councilman Rich Lettman, Bullhead City Councilwoman Tami Ring.
BULLHEAD CITY – The City of Bullhead City has announced that the new Bullhead Animal Resource Center is officially under construction. The Mayor and City Council celebrated this milestone with a smashing good time, kicking off the project by tearing down the first wall of the old Mohave Daily News building, which will be transformed into the new state-of-the-art Bullhead Animal Resource Center.
Mayor D’Amico and members of the council took part in the demolition by ceremoniously taking turns smashing a wall inside the building with a golden sledgehammer, signaling the beginning of this exciting project.
“Today, we’re literally tearing down walls,” said Mayor D’Amico. “I’m so excited to see this project getting underway and I can’t wait to see the new facility open.”
The project to build a new animal shelter has been a long time in the making. The City began the process of acquiring an engineer for the project in May 2022, with the original plan to build a new 10,000-square-foot facility.
However, plans changed when the City purchased the Mohave Valley Daily News building in March 2023. The City quickly pivoted to a plan to remodel the newly acquired 27,353 square-foot building. By July 2022, Selberg and Associates Inc. was tasked with designing a remodel of the building into an animal shelter.
The design was finalized in January 2024, and the project was put out to bid. Today, that project has begun, with Precise Builders winning the $3,856,336 contract to renovate the facility.
“The Bullhead Animal Resource Center will feature many new amenities that our community needs and asked for,” said Bullhead City Manager Toby Cotter. “We’re adding a veterinary clinic, dog washing stations, and a pet crematorium. The new shelter will also feature dramatically increased capacity for animals, with improved kennels and cat condos, viewing areas, and more.”
“We’re committed to the well-being of our animals and citizens,” said D’Amico. “The new animal resource center will provide enhanced facilities to care for the needs of our pets.”
Stay tuned for more updates as the Bullhead Animal Resource Center takes shape, with the completion expected by August of 2025. For more information, please contact Mackenzie Covert at (928) 763-0182 or mcovert@bullheadcityaz.gov.
