After a long awaited 15 years, dirt has finally been moved on the land that will soon become the Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption Center. This is a momentous step for those who have spent years researching and planning the development.
About Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption Center
The Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption Center, or WPRAC, will provide humane care and shelter to all lost and abandoned animals. The WPRAC will be a no-kill shelter that will stick to the standards of the current Dothan Animal Shelter, which states that 90 percent of the animals must leave the shelter through adoption, foster homes, or transportation to another facility, but either way they are leaving alive.
This center will provide places for animals without homes in Dothan, Houston County, and the surrounding areas. “It’s so exciting,” Executive Director Rachel Smith told WTVY News 4. “I can’t even put into words how awesome this day has been and the turnout from the community. How awesome is it that we didn’t have enough chairs for everyone to sit here today? They had to stand outside of the tent. If that doesn’t tell you how ready this community is for the project, I don’t know what will.”
Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption Center is not just aiming to support the community’s pets, but also members of the community. The center is going to be there for community members who can’t keep their pets or for members who need pet food or medical resources. However, as support and education, Smith stated, “We are also going to have that humane education piece so we’ll have birthday parties, school programming, summer camps. We’ll have all kinds of classes that will be free to the community, and that’s really the goal.”
Plans for the facility
Architectural plans, which have already been underway, are the next step in order to then begin construction. As a 501C3 nonprofit, the center has partnered with the city of Dothan and Houston County, but is still in need of sponsorships. This facility is projected to be an $8.5 million project, and the sooner they can get the money raised, the sooner construction can start. Smith stated that they hope to be done with construction and have the doors open by the beginning of 2024.
The plans for this facility include many features, such as:
- Outdoor privacy fenced-in play yards and meet and greet areas
- “Catios” so that the feline friends may access the outdoors safely
- A medical room to ensure the general medical needs of all shelter animals are met
- HVAC and plumbing drainage systems designed for disease prevention, air quality, and odor control.
To find the full list of facility features and amenities, head over to the Wiregrass Pets Rescue And Adoption Center facility page.
Future location
Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption Center will be located on Highway 52 West, just outside of Ross Clark Circle, between Ward Wilson Funeral Home and Eye Surgical Associates.
Summary
With the help of this center, pets all over Houston County may have a better chance of finding their fur-ever homes. Interested in helping the cause? Click here for more information on how to donate to the Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption Center.
We love our community just as much as the WPRAC! As a reminder for our residents, all pets must be kept on a leash while outside of their homes. This includes cats and dogs! Please help respect your fellow residents and keep your four-legged family members safe.
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