REPUBLIC, MO - After months of construction, the brand-new Animal Control Center is opening its doors to the public. The facility, located at 732 Highway 174, will allow the city to serve citizens and their pets more effectively. An open house and dedication event is set for Saturday, September 19, from 10 am to 2 pm.
A growing population has resulted in a lot more dogs and cats in the community. Currently, the city’s animal control department processes more than 500 lost/found animals per year, and the number has been increasing steadily.
The new Republic Animal Control Center includes a significant increase in space. The additional room will allow staff to process and house more than twice the number of animals. Features include indoor/outdoor kennels for up to 20 dogs, a fenced-in dog run area, facilities for veterinary care services, an adoption center, visitors lobby, and staff offices.
The previous animal facility, located on N. West Ave., was tiny, outdated, and inadequate for the growing community. The city ran out of space and frequently had to transfer animals to other shelters in the area. That ended up costing taxpayers $55 per animal- and totaling about $15,000 a year. The new facility will drastically reduce expenditures by eliminating the need to transport animals elsewhere. Also, the new location on Highway 174 will significantly improve visibility and accessibility for visitors.
The project was made possible thanks to the voters of Republic. In 2017, the community approved a 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax, which included funding for the new animal center.
For additional details or media inquiries, contact Michael Landis, Public Information Officer, at 417-380-7697, or mlandis@republicmo.com.