After opening its doors on May 20, the new Henrico County Animal Shelter welcomed 62 visitors and even more phone calls on its first day.

Considering that it already averages about 30 visitors daily, it's not surprising that a new shelter has been in the works for several years.

The new facility at 10421 Woodman Road is not only centrally located, but better able to cope with the growing needs of Henrico County. The previous facility, located on Dabbs Road in eastern Henrico, had become too cramped to sustain the growing number of animal occupants.

According to Henrico Police Lt. Shawn Sears who leads the Animal Protection Unit, the latest expansion of the 40-year-old facility took place in 1989 and 1990. With the new facility, lack of space is a non-issue.

"We have better suited areas where we can isolate certain animals." Sears said. "The space allows us to do that."

Although the county approved the funding for the new animal shelter in 2006, planning for it began as early as 2004. According to Sears, several employees of the current shelter took a trip to Spotsylvania County in order to get a first hand look at that county's new facility. In fact, many of the additions to the new Henrico shelter were inspired by those from the Spotsylvania animal shelter.

The new facility boasts a range of important changes that go toward benefiting not only the animals, but the employees as well.

Along with added capacity, the new animal shelter is equipped with a laundry area for bedding and towels, a commercial dishwasher to clean and sterilize feeding bowls (at the old facility, bowls were washed by hand) a mechanized cleaning and flushing system to remove animal waste from the cages, an improved heating and air-conditioning system, as well as an expanded livestock holding area that, according to Sears, would be able to house a horse adequately for a short period of time.

Also included in the new facility is a Sally port. At the old facility, officers had to transport animals from their cruisers into the shelter with no outside containment should the animal escape. At the new location, the Sally port allows officers to drive into a confined holding area and close the door behind them before attempting to move an animal.

In 2006, Sears told the Citizen that more space for the shelter was a priority not only to meet increased demand, but to give people a chance to interact with adoptable animals.

At the new facility, there is a small, enclosed area (complete with chew toys) where people can take an animal and do just that. The room also provides the officers a chance to observe an animal with a prospective owner.

"A person can take an animal in there, one on one. It's more quiet, away from the other animals," he said. "People really respond positively to that."

Along with the building expansion, Sears hopes to expand the range of services offered by the shelter. In fact, a room already is being set up for a veterinarian, a position that Sears eventually hopes to add full-time. This would enhance the ability of shelter officials to recognize and treat the various diseases and ailments that afflict animals. Sears also hopes to one day offer spaying and neutering services to those wishing to adopt, for a nominal fee.

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