Animals are more than just pets.

They're great listeners and secret-keepers.

They're hiking companions and security guards.

They know how to lift the mood when their humans are feeling down.

Most of all, they're family.

"For most people, when you start talking about the shelter, it brings back their own experience about their dogs or their cats that have been shelter pets or that they've rescued or been around," said Kootenai Humane Society Board President Cindy Edington.

Now is a critical moment for the Kootenai Humane Society. If just $1.5 million is raised by Sept. 1, construction can finally begin on the new facility that will allow the nonprofit, no-kill shelter to provide better space and care for the growing number of furry and feathered family members in North Idaho as the region itself continues to grow.

The capital campaign to build a 24,000-square-foot shelter on a 10-acre parcel north of Hayden Avenue on the west side of Atlas Road — not far from the current facility at 11650 N. Ramsey Road — has reached just more than $5 million.

The goal is $6.5 million.

Campaign leader Rick Rasmussen emphasized a big push is now needed as plans are in the works at the present shelter, which is on land the Coeur d'Alene Airport leases to the humane society.

"We've got in writing that in 2022, they're going to need that space," Rasmussen said. "They've been a great landlord. They've been very fair, but they're needing a larger runway and there's space issues. They're going to need that space."

Airport director Steven Kjergaard said it won't be anything immediately drastic, but "once we look at extending the runway, we’d definitely be into that area for a taxiway."

"We can’t have just a drastic retaining wall at the end of our pavement," he said. "There’s a distinct possibility that we could need to extend the runway especially as we continue to get busier and busier."

In the coming years, Ramsey Road will connect to Lancaster Avenue, which will increase the traffic flow right by the old building.

"They’re working on right-of-way acquisition," Hayden community and economic development director Melissa Cleveland said. "It's planned to be a pretty regional roadway. It will get busier over time."

Rasmussen said the campaign had great momentum until COVID struck.

"We're at the point now that this thing is coming," he said. "We don't know where we would put it. There's more need than ever. We are booked out on surgery cases until August. This new place will have a much better hospital facility so it will go quicker.

"We got to get this $1.5 million by 9/1, get this thing started this fall so we can have a shell in the ground and work over the winter," he said. "The sooner the better."

Edington said the first dog she adopted was more than 40 years ago, when the shelter was first built.

"Our last dog we just got two years ago from the shelter," she said. "There's just nothing better than that feeling, in my heart, of bringing an animal from a situation where they were going to be euthanized to bringing into your home and making them a part of the family.

"It's just that feel-good knowing that you have made life better for that animal that never gives you anything but love," she said.

She encourages community members to book appointments to tour the shelter and see the need for themselves.

"Get in and take a look at what we're operating under and why that need is there," she said. "People are always welcome to chat with me about it."

Email Edington at cedington21@gmail.com or Rasmussen at rick.rasmussen@nwsh for details on how you can help build the new home for the Kootenai Humane Society.