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Animal Services

Posted on: May 30, 2019

Ground is Broken for New Loudoun County Animal Services Facility

Photo of groundbreaking ceremony for new Animal Services facility in Loudoun County

A ceremonial groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction for the new facility that will serve as the primary location of Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) was held Thursday in Leesburg. Members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors joined with other officials, Loudoun County government staff, members of the project team and members of the community for the groundbreaking. 

The new, 21,450-square-foot facility will replace the existing 15,000-square-foot facility in Waterford as the main LCAS location. The new facility will become the first public animal shelter in the United States to meet 100% of the animal shelter guidelines established by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. 

The new state-of-the-art facility will feature: 

  • Kennels designed for optimal health and welfare; 
  • A multi-purpose room that will be available for public use after hours; 
  • Indoor and outdoor spaces for all pets, including “catios” (cat patios) and a “rabitat” (rabbit habitat); 
  • A split lobby to facilitate separation of adoptions and surrenders;
  • Isolation and quarantine kennels for animals in need of extended stays due to medical conditions or court orders; 
  • A veterinary clinic to provide onsite medical care for sheltered pets; and
  • Facility-wide sound mitigation and specialized air flow to reduce disease transmission

The new facility will provide many of the same services as the current animal shelter, including pet adoptions; animal welfare law enforcement; housing of stray, abandoned, or relinquished companion animals; dog license sales; volunteer opportunities; dispatch services; low-cost rabies vaccines, educational programs; and pet retention counseling. 

Loudoun officials say the larger, modern facility, centrally located in Leesburg, will help LCAS meet the needs of caring for companion and agricultural animals in a growing county. Currently, more than 2,000 animals are housed by the shelter annually. Construction on the new facility is expected to begin soon, with a completion date estimated for the summer of 2020. 

The existing LCAS location in Waterford will be renovated and repurposed to provide agricultural-related services, such as caring for horses and other farm animals. 

More information about the services provided by LCAS may be found at loudoun.gov/animals.

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