Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro will celebrate the completion of a $6.3 million regional animal shelter later this month.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. Public tours will be offered through 6 p.m.
The Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter, or SAWAS, is located in the former Verona Elementary School.
The move to the former school will begin on Oct. 27, and officials are hopeful to complete it within the week, making the new location permanent as early as Nov. 3. The new location offers 39,000 square feet of space, compared to 5,000 square feet at the current facility.
The two cities and county are footing the bill for the project based on average usage at the current animal shelter: Augusta County at $3.7 million, Staunton at $1.4 million and Waynesboro at $1.1 million.
The goal was to move the 20 miles from Lyndhurst to the new location in the spring. However, multiple construction delays pushed the opening date back. The most recent setback was related to the late arrival and installation of kennels.
ICYMI
- Regional shelter | Augusta County officials put positive spin on yet another delay
- Augusta County: $6.3M regional shelter move delayed until September
- Regional shelter completion pushed back to end of June; additional delays possible
“We are very excited about finishing construction and soon moving and opening the shelter,” Candy Hensley, assistant county administrator, previously told AFP.
The new animal shelter is located at 1011 Lee Highway in Verona.
For additional information about the project, see the county’s website.
More coverage
- Augusta County: Regional shelter on schedule and budget, should be completed by May
- Work on regional shelter ‘progressing well’; completion likely in spring 2025
- Price tag for new shelter in Augusta County is double the initial estimate
- Cost to move shelter to Verona higher than estimate; timeline is uncertain
- New shelter designs shared with owners’ group, public invited to offer comment
- Critics question Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center move, citing costs, capacity
- Municipal shelter to move to Verona Elementary School in 2024
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Crystal Graham
