A new state-of-the-art animal shelter opens to stray, abandoned and unwanted cats and dogs from across north Utah County on Tuesday.

The North Utah Valley Animal Shelter, 193 N. 2000 West in Lindon, will replace an aging shelter owned by Orem. It's nearly identical to the South Utah Valley Animal Shelter, which holds about 190 cats and 120 dogs.

"The Orem animal shelter has been serving all of northern Utah County, and as cities have grown, the facility has needed to expand," said Tug Gettling, director for the new shelter. "Our goal is to make the new shelter much more customer friendly, offering animals that are groomed and clean and that have had a behavior analysis."

The Lindon facility is about four times bigger than the Orem shelter, he said.

Utah County Commissioner Jerry Grover said the county paid for the construction of the new shelter and is leasing it to a special service district -- comprised of communities north of Provo -- for $1 a year. And although the shelter will be mostly funded by cities in the district, the county will also chip in.

"We have a financial responsibility to cover unincorporated areas," Grover said. Unincorporated areas are mainly agricultural with small populations that do not fall within city boundaries.

Cities in the district will be charged a fee based on the number of animals sent to the shelter from the previous fiscal year, Ott Dameron, vice chairman of the special service district board, explained.

"Currently cities will be charged $40 per animal, but that amount could change depending on the needs of the shelter."

The shelter will also bring in revenue by selling small pet items such as collars and leashes. Licenses can also be purchased at the shelter.

"Having a pet is a long-term commitment. If it is just a whim, don't do it," said Chris Jenkins, assistant manager of the Orem shelter and new Lindon shelter.

She said about 40 percent of animals brought into the Orem shelter are brought in by their owners.

"We hear all kinds of reasons why owners bring in their pets, everything from 'We're moving' to 'The animal doesn't match the décor.' "

Jenkins said people need to realize that only 15 to 20 percent of dogs and 1 or 2 percent of cats are adopted.

Animals that are not claimed by their owners or adopted are euthanized.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.