# Joybound People & Pets Starts Work on $16 Million Liberty Center in Walnut Creek

> Joybound People & Pets broke ground on its $16 million Liberty Center in Walnut Creek, with donors past $2.4 million of a $5 million fundraising goal.

- Published: 2026-10-28T18:29:54+00:00
- Section: Expansion
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-28/joybound-liberty-center-groundbreaking
- Source: [Business Wire](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028382557/en/)

## Key takeaways

- Joybound People & Pets broke ground on The Liberty Center, a $16 million facility in Walnut Creek, California, on October 21.
- Donors have secured more than $2.4 million toward the project's $5 million philanthropic fundraising goal.
- The Walnut Creek Planning Commission unanimously approved the project on September 10, and construction is expected to begin in early December 2026.

[Joybound People & Pets](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0021oxq/joybound-people-pets) broke ground on The Liberty Center, a $16 million pet boarding, daycare and veterinary behavioral services facility in Walnut Creek, California, on October 21. [Business Wire](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028382557/en/) reported that donors have raised more than $2.4 million toward a $5 million philanthropic goal, with opening anticipated in early 2028.

## Inside the Liberty Center Plans

Joybound's Board of Directors hosted the ceremony, which drew Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk. The Walnut Creek Planning Commission had unanimously approved the project on September 10.

Susan Lee Vick, president and CEO of Joybound, said the facility targets families who struggle to find temporary care for pets during medical emergencies, housing instability, domestic violence situations or natural disasters. "The Liberty Center is being built to help close that gap while expanding access to specialized behavioral care that can prevent pets from being surrendered," she said.

A Veterinary Behavioral Clinic inside the facility will be led by Dr. Wailani Sung, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. The center will also house dog and cat boarding, daycare and training spaces, with revenue supporting Joybound's community programs. The building is named for Liberty, a therapy dog of supporters Maud and Burton Goldfield.

"The name Liberty represents something deeply meaningful: the freedom to travel, go to work, or attend to life's responsibilities knowing your beloved pet is safe and cared for," Sung said.

## Joybound's Disaster Response Record

According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Joybound hosted a two-day Animal Disaster Preparedness Workshop in Walnut Creek with Animal Search and Rescue in June 2026, training more than 80 animal emergency response professionals. That same month, the organization worked with the ASPCA and Orange County Animal Care to relocate 25 kittens during the Orange County chemical leak crisis. In August 2025, Joybound opened the Engelstad Shelter to Service Center, a 7,893 sq ft facility for psychiatric service dog and emotional support animal training.

## Board Additions Ahead of the Expansion

In August 2026, Joybound appointed Carrie Barlow, Bill Carey and David Moore to its Board of Directors to support strategic growth and expansion, Petage reported. Earlier that month, FinancialContent Business Page covered the same three appointments. In September 2026, the same outlet reported the Walnut Creek Planning Commission's unanimous approval of The Liberty Center, which will offer boarding, daycare, veterinary behavioral services, crisis boarding and disaster-response support.

## Construction Start and Opening Timeline

Construction on The Liberty Center is expected to begin in early December 2026, and the facility is anticipated to open in early 2028. Joybound is continuing to raise funds toward its $5 million philanthropic goal through its Liberty Center campaign page.

## Companies in this story

- [Joybound People & Pets company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0021oxq/joybound-people-pets) · website: https://joybound.org

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