Concho Valley PAWS Announces Groundbreaking on August 17 for New Facility

SAN ANGELO, TX — On Friday, August 17, Concho Valley PAWS will host a special ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of their new facility next door to the San Angelo Animal Shelter. The ceremony will begin at 10 am and everyone is invited to attend. Plans of the facility will be displayed and pavers will be available for purchase.

The construction of the facility will have two phases. Phase one will be the delivery and set up of modular buildings that will be used for office space, spay and neuter clinic and cat habitats. This modular structure was purchased for Concho Valley PAWS by philanthropists Judith and David Hirschfeld who are long time supporters of the PAWS mission.

Phase two will include the construction of a large kennel facility with fenced play yards that will serve as an adoption showcase center for adoptable dogs.

“This is an exciting time for PAWS” said Jenie Wilson, Executive Director. “Space and time are always the most pressing issue when it comes to saving companion animals. These buildings will allow us to grow our programs and provide larger, more comfortable kennel space for shelter pets who become available for adoption” Wilson said.

San Angelo Animal Control will continue to operate out of the current San Angelo Animal Shelter. The PAWS facility will be located next door. “It makes sense for us to be next door to the shelter.”

In 2017, PAWS entered into a contractual agreement to provide adoption services to the City of San Angelo in hopes on increasing adoption, education and spay and neuter programs while decreasing euthanasia. The partnership has proven to be successful and this is the next step in the “no-kill” initiative. Animal Services will continue to house stray or lost pets during their mandatory stray hold. If a dog or cat is not claimed by an owner, it becomes property of the City of San Angelo and then available for adoption. At which time, adoptable dogs will transition to the PAWS adoption center freeing shelter space for incoming lost or stay pets.

“We are simply creating more space to make it possible to save more pets.” Wilson said.

PAWS also plans to increase the availability of low-cost spay and neuter services, increase educational services and implement some new programs with the new space.