Shelter Putting on the Dog? : Government: Mission Viejo’s new animal care facility opens Wednesday amid praise and criticism. Some think its $2.4-million cost could have been better spent elsewhere.

It may have become Mission Viejo’s most worn-out pun, but it’s nonetheless true: the city’s new $2.4-million animal shelter is definitely City Councilwoman Sharon Cody’s pet project.

In the last two years, Cody has spent thousands of hours on the project and seemingly endured as many critics who feel the money should be spent on people, not cats and dogs.

And as the shelter prepares to open Wednesday, Cody, known for being unable to resist taking bedraggled strays off the street, is persuaded she did the right thing for Mission Viejo.

“Yes, I care an awful lot about animals,” Cody said. “But I believe in this shelter and I believe it will be good for the entire community.”

On Wednesday, Mission Viejo will join Irvine, Laguna Beach and San Clemente among South County area communities that have their own shelters. In philosophy, the city will join San Clemente and a growing South County trend against euthanizing unwanted strays.

Unless too sick or vicious, animals will stay at the shelter for as long as it takes to find them a permanent home. Taxpayers pay for the first 30 days, but after that, a 125-member volunteer group known as the Friends of Mission Viejo Animals compensates the city for the rest of an animal’s stay.

What the city bought for its money is an attractive, 32-kennel facility with an administrative building on about 3.5 acres near Marguerite and Crown Valley Parkways.

Critics say the city spent too much and made the facility too nice. Assistant City Manager Dan Joseph bristles at the thought.

“Should we have built a Quonset hut?” he asked. “And made this place look ugly?”

Most of the money spent on the project went to grade and landscape the grounds--only about 3.5 acres of the 37-acre parcel is flat enough to build on. The rest of the land is steep slopes.

The $2.4-million price tag includes $1 million to buy the graded land from the Mission Viejo Co. The building cost $595,000 and the rest was spent on landscaping and paving the driveway and parking lot. Running the shelter is projected to cost $216,000 over the coming year.

Cody said the animal control shelter will break even in the future as the city learns with experience how to operate it more efficiently. It will make money through license fees.

Still, money used to build the shelter would have been better spent on social programs for teens or abused children, said Councilman William S. Craycraft, who has been the only council member to consistently oppose the animal shelter.

“If the money was burning a hole in our pocket, I’d rather it had been spent on a teen center or something else,” Craycraft said. “Proponents say it isn’t opulent. But those opposing it don’t feel it’s a real wise way to spend taxpayers’ money.”

Although only a few citizens spoke against the shelter before it was approved by the council last year, the project has been an easy target for local “watchdogs” who keep an eye on city finances.

“Mission Viejo has a bad habit of liking to do things big,” said resident Larry Gilbert. “In her heart, (Cody) believes she did the right thing. But in my heart, no one can convince me it should cost that much to build an animal shelter.”

Now that it’s here, the volunteer group has big plans for the shelter. In the future, the shelter will:

* Hold shot clinics for Mission Viejo pets.

* e the gathering center for several pet education programs.

* Provide animals for a pet outreach program.

“We’re going to bring them to shut-ins at boarding homes throughout the city,” Cody said. “These animals are going to bring joy to a lot of lonely people. Animals can be very powerful medicine.”

Sheltering Animals Mission Viejo opens its new animal shelter Wednesday amid criticism that it cost too much. Project cost: $2.4 million Operating cost: $216,00 projected for first year Size: 3.5 usable acres on a hilly 37-acre parcel; includes 32 kennels and administration building. Care limits: Animals stay until permanent home is found. Care cost: Taxpayers pay for first 30 days of animal’s stay; volunteers group compensates city for rest of stay. Future services: Shot clinics, pet education programs, pet outreach for shut-ins Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 a.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday Phone: (714) 348-2045 Guidlines: Shelter serves Mission Viejo only Source: City of Mission Viejo