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Port Arthur staff say new animal services center is nearing completion; capacity to more than double
Summary
City staff presented construction progress on the new Port Arthur animal services center, describing completed masonry and roofing, interior work in progress, a training room and adoption facilities, and a projected November completion window.
Anthony Mitchell, supervisor of the City of Port Arthur Animal Shelter, updated the council on Aug. 26 on construction and program plans for a new animal services center.
Mitchell described construction progress: masonry and kennel areas are substantially complete, roofing is nearly finished, and interior work such as plumbing, electrical, and forthcoming sheetrock installation is underway. Aerial and interior photos shown to council illustrated a nearly closed envelope and work progressing on parking and exterior grading.
Mitchell said the facility will include an office/training area, a “sally port” intake area, adoption rooms where prospective owners can meet animals, and a training room that will allow the shelter to host continuing‑education courses for animal services personnel. “We plan to have education classes for pet ownership,” Darlene (shelter staff) added; Mitchell and staff said the center will host community programming and partner with regional rescues for transport and adoption events.
Council members praised the project. Council member Doucette and others contrasted the new facility with the previous shelter, calling the new building “state of the art.” During discussion, council members asked operational questions: Mitchell said the facility currently has 38 cages but anticipates more than 70 animals can be housed when configured for full use. He said the shelter has already coordinated transport and rescue partners and recently sent animals to rescues that reduced on‑site inventory.
When asked about a completion date, staff said the contractor’s current projection is completion in November; the presenter referenced a calendar date that staff said is in late November as the target but did not provide a signed turnkey date in the meeting packet. Council members discussed plans for an opening celebration and ongoing adoption events once the facility opens.
No formal action was taken; council received the progress report and asked staff to continue public notifications and scheduling for outreach and adoption programming.
