Joybound People & Pets Announces New Dog and Cat Boarding and Day Care Facility to Meet Growing Community Demand

New facility to expand access to affordable, high-quality pet care services in the East Bay while supporting emergency and crisis needs.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Joybound People & Pets, a leading Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to pet rescue, adoptions, veterinary care, and community services that strengthen the human-animal bond, is thrilled to announce the development of a state-of-the-art Dog and Cat Boarding and Day Care facility, set to break ground in April 2026 with an anticipated opening in Fall 2027.

“Joybound is dedicated to both forming and supporting pet families,” said Joybound Board Chair, Jennifer Hall. “We know shortage of boarding and daycare resources is often a barrier to pet adoptions, especially as more people return to in-person work. Joybound is committed to offering pet families a trusted, reasonably priced solution.”

This major initiative is a key milestone in Joybound’s long-term strategic plan to meet the evolving needs of the community and responsibly utilize a 1.7-acre section of undeveloped campus property. The new facility will offer much-needed services, including dog and cat boarding, day care, behavior consultation, and training.

The project has been under study and development for nearly two years and is led by a multidisciplinary team of Joybound board members, staff, and advisors. Joybound is fortunate to have senior staff with deep expertise in animal care, behavior consultation, and boarding operations. This collective experience ensures the new facility will extend Joybound’s reputation for animal care excellence in the community.

In addition to serving pet families, the facility will also enable Joybound to expand its capacity for vital services such as:

Crisis Boarding – Compassionate care for pets when their families face urgent challenges. This includes support for individuals experiencing domestic violence, housing insecurity, or medical emergencies, such as older adults undergoing treatment who need temporary pet care.

Disaster Relief Boarding – Emergency boarding for animals displaced by natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, or severe storms. This facility will expand Joybound's ability to support community and partner organizations by providing temporary, safe shelter and care services.

“This isn’t just a new building—it’s a wise investment in our mission,” said Joybound President and CEO, Susan Lee Vick. “We have long known our community needs affordable, high-quality pet care. Serving that need aligns perfectly with our mission.”

The project is estimated to cost $11.8 million and will be self-financed by Joybound. By investing in this social enterprise, the organization will generate a stable and competitive return to support its long-term financial health—while directly advancing its mission.

“Our community trusted us with their legacies—gifts that are meant to make an impact,” said Kevin Fick, Joybound Board Treasurer. “By investing those resources in a project that serves our mission and meets community demand, we honor that legacy while building a more resilient future.”

Upon reaching full occupancy, the facility is projected to generate more than 70,000 essential services to the community each year, from day care visits to critical crisis support. Joybound remains committed to ensuring rates for all services remain as cost effective as possible.

About Joybound People and Pets:

Joybound People & Pets is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the human-animal bond by providing compassionate rescue and adoption programs, pet-focused vocational training, and community services that benefit both animals and their human companions. Since 1991, Joybound has facilitated more than 52,000 pet adoptions, while offering accessible veterinary services, animal training, human education and more, resulting in a 145% increase in essential services to the community from 2023. Learn more at joybound.org.