Plans are still in the talking stage for the building of a new animal shelter that will serve El Paso County.
In November, voters in the Texas county gave their approval to a proposition calling for $32.7 million to be spent to build the new facility.
Proposition E, which proposed issuing bonds to pay for the new shelter, while also levying to pay the principal and interest on the bonds, was approved with 63.7% of the vote.
The new shelter is partly intended to lessen the pressure on the city-operated El Paso Animal Services facilities which last year took in around 20,000 animals. According to reports, that number is expected to increase to 24,000 this year.
The new shelter, which will have up to 400 kennels, will be built near the El Paso County Jail Annex on Montana Avenue on the eastern side of the county. The facility will be the first such shelter El Paso County has operated. Besides providing shelter, the facility is expected to offer neuter and spay services.
Uniquely, the shelter may have in place a program offering animal training for some of the jail annex inmates.
Although an exact construction schedule has not yet been announced, it was earlier thought that the county would like to see the new shelter operational by 2030.
January 21, 2025
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
