Stanislaus County is buying out the city of Modesto’s share of the former dog pound facility on Finch Road across the river from Ceres so that a group can operate it for animal services while helping those in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.

On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors approved the buyout from Modesto for $375,000. The county, in turn, wants to sell the facility to another group.

The county was approached by Parsons Partners to enter a lease-purchase proposal to renovate, refurbish and operate the facility as a full-scale small animal care facility, with boarding and training programs. The program will also provide opportunity and employment for individuals engaged in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.

Parsons Partners will form a new Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) and enter into an agreement to pay the county the full appraised value over a five-year term. Should there be a default, the property will be transferred back to the county with the county owning any improvements made by Parsons Partners.

The city of Modesto and the county were deeded the property in 1956 near the Modesto Airport for future animal services. The dog pound was constructed in 1973 and used until 2011 when Stanislaus County and its city partners opened the Thomas W. Mayfield Animal Services Facility on Cornucopia Way in Ceres. Once the new facility was commissioned, the Finch Road animal shelter was abandoned. It was used by Wags and Whiskers Rescue organization from 2013 to 2016.

Costs for facility maintenance, repairs, and real estate costs, will be deducted from the sale price. These costs are estimated not to exceed $25,000. 

Under the terms of the Parsons Partners Agreement, the county will receive the full appraised value of the property over a five-year term.