Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter Opens Canine Corral

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter officials are scheduled to open a dog shelter in the county's Livestock Show Barn in San Gabriel Park on Wednesday.

Shelter officials announced the plans on Monday. They will be celebrating the progression of construction of their expanded and renovated facility with multiple events in June, including free adoptions for dogs more than 30 pounds from June 1st through June 9th. A grand opening of the temporary dog shelter, nicknamed “Canine Corral,” on Wednesday.

The new Adoption Center for the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is well on its way from a dream to a reality, officials said. Moreover, renovation of the existing shelter is progressing and will soon expand to the kennels, officials added. The next phase consists of renovating the former dog adoption area by replacing the failed drainage system, resurfacing the floors, installing new air conditioning units, and updating the kennels.

While the shelter's dog adoption area is getting a much-needed upgrade, the dogs will move to a temporary shelter in San Gabriel Park, officials noted. The Georgetown Livestock Show Barn, located at 425 E Morrow St., traditionally was the location of events such as the Williamson County Youth Expo and closed after the new Williamson County Expo Center opened in Taylor, Texas, officials explained. In this new transformation, the show barn will have an adoption lobby, adoption kennels set on newly poured concrete, an intake area for lost dogs and owner surrenders (by appointment), and an area for animal health technicians to care for the dogs.

"Even though this location is in the heart of Georgetown, the shelter’s services will continue to be devoted to the residents of Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, and Williamson County," officials noted. Residents in the city limits of Georgetown will continue to utilize the services of the Georgetown Animal Shelter, 110 W L Walden Dr., Georgetown, officials added.

County officials noted that this plan, developed by the members of all five of the shelter's jurisdictions, is a joint effort of financial and lifesaving responsibility. The temporary shelter will save the Williamson County taxpayers $500,000 and will shave six months off the construction time, officials added.

"It is also a lifesaving choice," officials added. "During this phase of construction, most of the current kennels will be demolished and the new kennels in the Adoption Center will not be functional. By moving the dogs to a temporary shelter, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter can continue to operate fulfilling its life-saving mission. Additionally, operations will run as usual for cats at the current shelter on 1855 SE Inner Loop."

Officials thanked the community's contributions in making the facility nearly a no-kill shelter: "The community has played a significant role in helping to maintain the shelters 90% or better save rate, and the shelter is again reaching out for support during this construction phase," officials said. "The outreach began with a social media poll to choose a name for their temporary shelter. The community voted and "Canine Corral" will be the home for the shelter dogs for the next six months."

Officials noted the shelter is already planning to make their stay special with pupsicles — frozen treats for dogs which can include yogurt, peanut butter, and dog food. The shelter has created a public calendar on which families or service groups can sign up to bring these treats to the shelter dogs. The shelter will even be providing recipes on their social media and website, wilcopets.org.

The dogs will be ready for the public in their temporary location on June 6 from noon to 6 p.m. Shelter officials welcomes community members to drop in and foster or adopt a dog during the Canine Corral’s grand opening event. Dogs 30 pounds and more will be free to adopt, smaller dogs aged 7 months and up will be $15 to adopt, and puppies (younger than 7 months) will be $75 to adopt.

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