LA HONDA, CA — Animals on the San Francisco Peninsula will get more room to breathe.

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA is close to finalizing the purchase of a 261-acre plot of land in La Honda for a new animal sanctuary. "We are incredibly excited to begin this next, new chapter in our long history of lifesaving work for local animals, as this land is transformed into a sanctuary for those animals who can live a quality life but are not likely to find a home through traditional adoption programs," Humane Society President Ken White said.

The land purchase was made possible through donations. The animal sanctuary will provide a refuge for behaviorally challenged and medically fragile cats and dogs in a secure environment where they can live a happy and satisfying life. The animal sanctuary is poised to also provide housing and care for rabbits and farm animals that otherwise would have no place to go.

"As an open admission shelter, many animals come to us with serious health and behavior problems," White said. Expanded services even include hospice care for fatally ill animals as well as special services for the survivors of abuse and neglect, which has left them untrusting of humans.

"This has been a dream of our organization for a long time and we are thrilled to have been able to realize the first phase of the dream with the purchase of the land through the generosity of private donors," according to White. "We are starting to enter the planning and permitting stages and hope to begin construction in about 12 to 18 months."

The sanctuary will not be open to the public as it is a caring facility only. However, live webcams will be set up, so the public will have the opportunity to watch the sanctuary animals without disturbing them.