Work has officially begun on a brand new animal shelter facility in Fort Worth, the first in 22 years.
Mayor Betsy Price and fellow city officials Wednesday morning helped break ground for the eight-acre animal shelter campus situated far north in Fort Worth at 351 Hillshire Drive, near Haslet. “Animal enrichment and human-animal interactions” are guiding principles for this new facility, according to Fort Worth.
The new animal center comes thanks to the 2018 bond election, in which voters OK’d $13.7 million to build the facility.
Room for 300 pets up for adoption will be included alongside a number of indoor kennels, space for potential adopters to meet pets and outdoor spaces. A veterinary clinic with surgery and triage units and open work spaces will aim to enhance engagement among animal care staff.
“Our goal with the new shelter is to offer the highest level of customer service to the residents; provide the best care for the pets and the best quality of life while in our care,” said Dr. Tim Morton, who has oversight of Fort Worth Animal Care & Control, in a statement. “It’s all about the pets and taking the next step in making Fort Worth the most pet-friendly city in the nation.”
Work on the new animal center comes at a time when Fort Worth has seen plenty of overcapacity at shelters. This past summer, some shelters had as high as a 250-animal overflow.