Members of the McKamey family are giving $1 million for the city's new animal shelter.
The gift is from Bob McKamey, owner of Capital Toyota and Lexus of Chattanooga, and his son, Jeff, and daughter, Karla.
Officials said that leaves about $1 million more needed for the $5.6 million necessary to build the shelter on 10 acres of city-owned DuPont property.
The current animal shelter is operated by the Humane Educational Society on N. Highland Park Avenue.
Construction on the new shelter begins this spring.
An Animal Care Trust was formed to build and operate it.
The new 21,000-square-foot center will be the McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center.
Bob McKamey said, “The McKamey Family is grateful to be in a position to give back to a community who has given so much to us. We all have now and have always had animals as part of our family. Our pets have enriched our lives and our homes. Making this contribution is our way of returning their love. We appreciate the leadership of our fine mayor and recognize all who have been instrumental in seeing this project come to life.”
“I have always felt strongly about the protection and care of animals. Being involved in this project gives me a sense of pride for the legacy that my family will pass on for generations,” said Karla McKamey-Valadez.
The center will feature an open lobby, skylights, murals, kiosks, interactive computer stations to match people with pets, and indoor/outdoor runs. It will include cat colonies and condos with a view of the outside, behavior evaluation room to test temperament, get acquainted rooms, community education classroom and library, a surgical suite and isolation rooms.