SMITHFIELD — There will be new digs for dogs in the near future, if Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. has his way.

Tassoni, a Democrat who represents Smithfield and North Smithfield, said yesterday he was surprised at a political fundraiser on Monday when a man offered a $10,000 anonymous donation to build a new animal shelter in Smithfield.

Stephen R. Archambault, president of the Town Council, disclosed the donation at Tuesday’s council session. He thanked the donor, called the gift “a lot of money” and said a new shelter is badly needed.

The current shelter is on the grounds of the town’s Department of Public Works yard, off Spragueville Road. It has been the subject of complaints on and off for several years. A recent inspection by a veterinarian and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals cited various deficiencies, Tassoni said.

“They said things needed to be done,” Tassoni said. “I went over and took a look.”

After that visit, Tassoni said, he conferred with Town Manager Dennis G. Finlay to determine whether a nonprofit organization should be formed. He said that Finlay was checking to see whether an existing nonprofit agency would serve. If not, he said, he will form one.

Tassoni said that work would commence as soon as another nonprofit committee he heads, the Friday Night Lights Committee, which is arranging for lighting at the Smithfield High School athletic complex, is done with its work. “Some time next year,” he said of the timeline.

“Dennis said it was a great idea to look into building a new shelter,” Tassoni said.

“This one is antiquated. It badly needs upgrades. I told him that I thought we were spending good money after a bad building.”

Tassoni said he conferred yesterday with John Ratcliffe, acting public works director, to determine whether there is space elsewhere in the public works yard that could be used.

“We are not looking to build a bigger facility,” he said.

“The goal is to build without taxpayer dollars — all corporate grants and private citizen donations. Hopefully it will be a better place for the animals to be adopted out.”

Tassoni said he expects the cost to exceed the $10,000 donation. “The way the gentleman put it was, here’s a start,” he reported. “I honestly don’t know how much it’s going to cost. Once we have plans secured, we’ll take a look, get an estimate and a feel of how big and how expensive it’s going to be.”

He described the current shelter as “old and dilapidated — I’m not looking to build the Taj Mahal. We’re looking to build a facility more comparable to state of the art than what we have right now.”

tmorgan@projo.com