Written by Julia Cardarelli
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has approved $1 million for the planning and design of a new county animal shelter.
The shelter, which is expected to cost $12.7 million, will be funded through the county’s Capital Improvement Plan, according to county documents.
The existing shelter, located on the corner of Bristow Road and Route 234 in Manassas, is more than 40 years old, and has structural issues that are having an impact on the animals, and the shelter’s volunteers.
“[The shelter] has never been renovated and as such is totally inadequate to address the homeless pet population that now accompanies [the county’s] population of 450,000,” stated President of the Prince William Humane Society Lori Leary.
Leary stated that due to inadequate space, “the dogs are crowded into gang runs rather than keeping them separated which many times has resulted in dog on dog aggression and death.”
According to county documents, the new facility will be 27,000 square feet – 4 ½ times larger than the current shelter.
Residents can expect enhanced public access, housing of stray and homeless pets and vaccines to prevent the spread of contagious animal diseases at the new shelter, according to county documents.
The planning and design phase of the project will begin this year, and construction is set to begin in fiscal year 2018. The new animal shelter is slated for completion in 2020, according to county documents.
