By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council has given the city the green light to move forward with plans to retrofit a recently purchased property on Old Auburn Road for future use with local city animal service needs.
During an annual strategic planning retreat held at the end of March, City Council supported a recommendation by the city to move forward with utilizing the property at 7555 Old Auburn Road for local Animal Services, the city confirmed in an email Tuesday. More specific operational details will be refined in the coming months, but the city confirmed plans to utilize the property to temporarily hold lost animals in order to “aid in reunification.”
Following the strategic planning retreat, the city issued a Request for Qualifications for design services associated with retrofitting the property. Upon selecting design professionals, the city will begin the design process and then develop a schedule for the buildout, the city said. Interior improvements for the city animal services center will be addressed during the design phase.
The Animal Services team has partnered with Sacramento County to hold free vaccine and microchipping clinics for the local community on the property. During the strategic planning meeting, Citrus Heights City Manager Ashley Feeney said the first Bradshaw Animal Assistance Team (B.A.A.T.) clinic held in March was a success, and the clinic was able to offer vaccine and microchipping services to over 200 dogs.
The date for the Animal Services team relocation to the Old Auburn Road property will be informed by the forthcoming construction schedule, the city said.
As well, FieldHaven Feline Center has submitted a proposal as a “potential” non-profit tenant for the lease of 7569 Old Auburn Road, a 4,000-square-foot building adjacent to 7555 Old Auburn Road. Any tenant improvements related to FieldHaven would be addressed in the final lease agreement.
Currently, FieldHaven operates a marketplace in Lincoln and offers periodic vaccine and microchipping clinics, fostering and adoption, Trap, Neuter, Return services, and Spay and Neuter assistance programs.
The nonprofit would potentially operate in the facility without paying rent for an 18-month duration initially, Feeney said during the strategic planning meeting, before beginning to pay rent. As a tenant, the nonprofit would provide monthly wellness and microchipping clinics that can service up to 100-150 animals, including cats, dogs and other small pets.
FieldHaven aims to open the new clinic location in Citrus Heights by August of this year, subject to approval by the city, as well as required permits and needed improvements to the facility.
“This date is tentative, as a formal lease agreement needs to be executed with final terms and conditions,” the city said Tuesday.
The property on Old Auburn Road was home to Citrus Heights Preschool for decades until it closed abruptly in the spring of 2024. The City of Citrus Heights finalized the purchase of the property at the end of October 2024.
