History of the Cochise Co Animal Shelter

In December 2018 the Huachuca City animal shelter closed due to an electrical/ plumbing issue that could have been fixed. This shelter was also the Cochise County shelter. It was a very active shelter with many adoptions and public events. Very rarely was an animal euthanized.

Subsequent to the shelter closing, the Board of Supervisors ent

In December 2018 the Huachuca City animal shelter closed due to an electrical/ plumbing issue that could have been fixed. This shelter was also the Cochise County shelter. It was a very active shelter with many adoptions and public events. Very rarely was an animal euthanized.

Subsequent to the shelter closing, the Board of Supervisors entered into an agreement with the Douglas Shelter to house the County dogs under an IGA (inter governmental agreement) . 

The Douglas shelter was never meant to be a shelter. It was used as a recovery area for the adjacent vet. Consequently the kennels are very small: 3’ by 5’, all concrete, no sunlight. 

Douglas does not have volunteers. They do not encourage public adoptions. They rely on rescues to save the dogs from emergent situations. Douglas is known for having a high euthanasia rate. A dire place for County dogs! 

For many years volunteers have attempted to find new and improved locations for a county shelter. 

Then, a couple years ago, the County entered into an agreement with the Humane Society of So Az (HSSA). This was a promising collaboration of HSSA transporting dogs from Douglas Shelter to their facility in Tucson. Their CEO, Steve Farley, stood before the Board of Supervisors and shared his visions of transporting hundreds of dogs from Douglas and saving their lives.  An exciting proposition. 

Volunteers started transporting dozens of dogs from the Douglas shelter to Tucson in an HSSA transport van. Months later the volunteers were no longer needed. HSSA hired a person to work directly with the Douglas shelter. She transported many dogs. Then after several months, she left HSSA. 

Fast forward to this date, HSSA has not transported many dogs from the Douglas shelter for many months.

The HSSA CEO Steve Farley has been fired.    HSSA has stated they have no interest in operating the County shelter. 

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) located in Tucson began working with the County Board of Supervisors and their staff in 2022 in planning to renovate and operate a new county shelter in Bisbee at the former juvenile detention site on Toveraville Rd. 

However, Steve Farley CEO of HSSA was fired.  And HSSA now does not want to o

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) located in Tucson began working with the County Board of Supervisors and their staff in 2022 in planning to renovate and operate a new county shelter in Bisbee at the former juvenile detention site on Toveraville Rd. 

However, Steve Farley CEO of HSSA was fired.  And HSSA now does not want to operate the county shelter. 

This $3 million proposed project is to be funded by a $1.1 mil USDA grant plus matched by $1.9 mil in general funds through the County. 

According to the USDA grant application, the shelter is currently designed for 10 kennels, and to be operated plus supplied with personnel and equipment by HSSA.

To this date, an architect has been identified - $250,000 in total design services. $65,000 has been given to the architect to determine the feasibility of the building for an animal shelter

There are no final plans in place. 

There has been on-going asbestos abatement at the site. 

 The shelter is scheduled to break ground in mid 2024 (that date is long gone).  Occupancy in 2026?  BUT realistically this will not happen! We're looking at 2-4 years for the shelter to be completed. 

HSSA is no longer interested in operating the county animal shelter with the firing of its CEO Steve Farley. 

Has the USDA been informed that their grant specifications of HSSA operating the shelter plus supplying personnel and equipment are no longer viable? 

 The Tailtopia boarding facility is available to purchase for $1.5 million

it is fully operational and available immediately  to occupy.

The property is centrally located on County land near the Sierra Vista Mall. 

See listing information HERE

It's a 5,700sf building on 2.29 acres. It has 24 indoor/outdoor modern kennels, three play yards, ma

 The Tailtopia boarding facility is available to purchase for $1.5 million

it is fully operational and available immediately  to occupy.

The property is centrally located on County land near the Sierra Vista Mall. 

See listing information HERE

It's a 5,700sf building on 2.29 acres. It has 24 indoor/outdoor modern kennels, three play yards, many dog walking areas, a cat room, grooming area, office, kitchenette, reception area, washer/dryer., quarantine room, dual separate ventilation systems, and much more. 

The grooming room can be converted in the future to a spay/neuter room

The Cochise County Sheriff's department uses Tailtopia to board their working dogs. 

Please email HERE to receive the full marketing package.