Prince William County, VA… The Prince William Board of County Supervisors and the Prince William County Police Department cordially invite members of our community to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official grand opening of the new Animal Services Center, on Sept. 17. The ceremony will take place at the new center located at 14807 Bristow Road in Manassas.
Ceremonies kick off at 11 a.m. with a ribbon cutting, guest speakers, and informational tables featuring our community groups and partners, including the Prince William SPCA and Prince William Humane Society, who were instrumental in supporting and advocating for the new center.
Tours of the new facility will take place all weekend and will also feature FREE animal adoptions. The center will have special opening day hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday (last tour beginning at 4 p.m.) and normal operating hours Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Main parking for the event on Saturday will be at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center, 14715 Bristow Road, with free shuttle service available.
The new Animal Services Center replaces the previous 45-year-old obsolete and outgrown shelter, which originally opened in 1975 when the county’s population was significantly less than the nearly half a million residents of today. The old shelter was riddled with issues and posed ongoing concerns regarding adequate housing space for animals, medical care limitations and the necessary storage for materials needed for the care of animals. In 2017, the Board of County Supervisors approved the construction of the new facility as a priority to meet the needs of the growing county.
“As Prince William County continues to welcome more residents, community services like the Animal Services Center will provide the necessary support for all types of animals,” said Ann Wheeler, Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. “The board recognized the value of providing an upgraded facility to ensure the well-being and health of animals that come through the Center’s doors and grounds.”
The Animal Services Center is a modern, 27,000+ sq. ft. facility featuring a two-stall, medical-grade barn on the complex grounds, four outdoor play yards for dogs, multiple smaller outdoor play areas, a community cat room, individually ventilated cat condos and separate housing areas for all species ranging from dogs and cats to livestock and our small, furry, feathered, and scaley animals. With the health of all animals a priority, the new center features an upgraded HVAC system to reduce airborne diseases and a veterinarian suite on site capable of surgeries and advanced medical care for animals.
“We are excited to finally open this new, much-needed facility here in Prince William County dedicated to the care of all animals,” said Peter Newsham, Chief of the Prince William County Police Department. “It is clear the county saw a great necessity to update this facility to meet our growing needs and we were very appreciative of the support from the Board of County Supervisors in its funding. This new center will serve the residents of Prince William County for many years to come.”
In 2021, the Animal Services Center processed 2,000+ adoptions and boasted a 91% save rate with over 150 animal transfers to area rescues and wildlife facilities. Approximately 150 volunteers working more than 18,000 hours added to the center’s success resulting in 528 animal fosters and 531 lost animal reunifications with their families last year.
“The opening of the Animal Services Center presents a leap forward in the level of care that Prince William County can offer for its animal residents in need and represents our county’s commitment to creating a more humane community,” said Anthony Cleveland, Division Chief of the Prince William County Police Department Animal Control Bureau. “Our staff is grateful to see this project come to fruition. Thank you to the Prince William County residents and the Board of County Supervisors for their support of this project and the future of animal care in our community.”
Partially opening in November 2021, the new facility’s staff look forward to the long-awaited, official grand opening in September. The former animal shelter was demolished in January 2022 as construction progressed on the new Animal Services Center.
To learn more about the services offered by the Animal Control Bureau and the animals available for adoption at the Animal Services Center, visit our website. For those interested in fostering an animal or volunteering at the center, consider applying today.
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