City breaks ground on animal services center.
City officials broke ground today, May 7, on an animal services center that will improve and expand shelter and prevention programs and facilities for Austin and surrounding communities.
The $12 million center will be part of the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department’s operations at the Betty Dunkerley Campus at 7201 Levander Loop, just west of U.S. 183 near Airport Boulevard.
“Building a Humane Community Together” is the theme for the 41,450 square foot center. Completion is expected in fall 2011.
“This groundbreaking ceremony represents a significant milestone for the entire community,” Mayor Lee Leffingwell said. “The City, the County and the community are committed to excellence in the area of animal welfare and this new facility will help serve that purpose.” City Manager Marc Ott also discussed how the City and community are moving forward. “We are now well on our way toward achieving the goal of a 90% live outcome for the dogs and cats that come into our shelter,” Ott said. “And this groundbreaking symbolizes the positive community partnership required to reach the humane goals we have set for ourselves.” The new facility will provide larger kennels, allowing for more than one dog in an enclosure, which are more humane and more comfortable for the dogs.
Each of the yards will be connected by gates so that groups of socialized dogs living together can share outdoor yards. This “group housing” will decrease problems encountered with the long-term kenneling of dogs and represents one of the many advantages afforded by the opportunity to build a new facility.
Also, cat group rooms and screened cat porches will provide natural light and fresh air to enhance the quality of life for these animals.
“First and foremost, the animal services center is designed with animal health and comfort in mind,” said David Lurie, Director of the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department that oversees the center. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to celebrate the grand opening.”
For the community, the new facility will offer more gathering spaces, both indoors and outdoors. The user-friendly design features will make it easier for people to navigate the adoption process, the lost-and-found area as well as other services. An education center will further the City shelter’s on-going trainings and outreach programs and additional clinic space for veterinarians will expand shelter-based prevention programs.
The architectural look for the new facility will be compatible with existing campus buildings and maximizes use of outdoor space for both people and animals. The new facility is designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental silver rating designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED-certified facilities offer significantly lower operating costs in terms of energy use and maintenance as well as increased health benefits.
Solar panels will cover the roof of the new animal services center so that water can be heated by the sun. Re-used bricks from campus buildings previously demolished will be used to build the new facility.
Twelve million dollars in bond funds were approved by voters in 2006 for the animal services center as part of a $16 million dollar project that includes infrastructure improvements for the campus. Besides the animal services center, the campus houses the Health and Human Services administrative offices.
Animal services will move from the Town Lake Animal Center. Future use of that facility has not been determined.
An Arts in Public Places Project, still to be awarded, will commemorate the historical significance of the site that once housed a campus for the segregated Texas Blind, Deaf and Orphan School.
Consulting firm for the new animal services center project is Jackson and Ryan Architects of Houston.
To learn more about the new animal services center visit our newly re-designed animal services website at
