A new regional animal shelter that was scheduled to open in the spring has now pushed its move back again, this time to November.
The Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter, currently operating as the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center, has faced numerous delays throughout the construction process.
The latest delay, according to county officials, is “unfortunate,” but will give everyone involved more time to for planning and training.
“We were notified by the kennel manufacturer/installer that there is another delay,” Candy Hensley, assistant county administrator, told AFP on Thursday. “The vendor has indicated the kennels should be installed by the end of October. Although this is unfortunate, it does give us additional time to train and settle aspects of moving.”
The kennels were originally scheduled to be shipped on Aug. 22 with installation by the manufacturer. The kennels were ordered some time in May by Harman Construction as part of their contract, she said.
Due to the adjusted timeline, Hensley said, shelter staff members were able to take “much-needed” time off for vacations this summer, and it has given everyone involved more opportunity to think through the operations, training and planning logistics involved with the approximately 20-mile move from Lyndhurst to Verona.
The upside to moving later, tentatively in November, is that puppy and kitten season will be over, and staff can work to clear the shelter with adoption events so less animals have to be transported to the new location.
The $6.3 million project will transform the former elementary school property into a state-of-the art pet adoption and reunification center with separate buildings for cats and dogs, play yards for dogs and a roam room for cats, a community pet food pantry, an outside holding area for livestock, a welcoming lobby and office space for staff. With the move, the square footage of the shelter is expected to increase from 5,000 to 39,000 square feet.
The two cities and county are footing the bill for the project based on average usage at the current shelter: Augusta County at $3.7 million, Staunton at $1.4 million and Waynesboro at $1.1 million.
“It has been a long process to renovate a pod school into the new animal shelter,” Hensley said. “The public, localities and shelter staff have been patient with a few delays.”
All buildings are substantially complete with construction now finished in the last pod, which is for dog adoption. The construction company also wrapped up painting and lighting. Fencing and landscaping work is complete, and the parking lot now includes handicapped parking and an island with lights.
“We are very excited about finishing construction and soon moving and opening the shelter,” Hensley said.
For additional information about the project, see the county’s website.
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Crystal Graham
