A bigger bite of real estate is going to the dogs in Brunswick County.

Paws Place Inc., a non-profit dog rescue organization, bought 18 acres off N.C. 87 in Winnabow with plans to build a 6,000-square-foot facility, according to an announcement from the group Thursday. The new location is expected to include indoor and outdoor kennels, an exercise yard, adoption services, grooming, laundry and veterinary examination rooms, the news release said.

The organization’s current location, on five acres at 3701 East Boiling Spring Road, has 43 outdoor kennels. Established in 1999, Paws Place could not build an indoor facility on its current property because of poor soil quality and county setback requirements, according to the announcement.

“For the past 15 years we have operated at our current location, providing shelter, care, and rehabilitation for countless rescue dogs,” said George Zimmerman, board member and project manager for Paws Place, in the Thursday news release. “Faced with the critical need to bring the dogs and caregivers into an enclosed facility that would provide protection from wind, rain, potential hurricanes, and extreme heat and cold, we decided to move the kennel. We are so happy to find a new location that keeps us in Winnabow, and will be much easier for adopters and volunteers to access.”

Although the announcement did not disclose the price Paws Place paid for the land, a deed recorded in Brunswick County in July shows the organization bought 17.86 acres off N.C. 87 for $121,000 from the Young family.

Zimmerman said Paws Place hopes to break ground on the new facility this fall.