Cats and Dogs in Tazewell County will have a new and improved shelter to stay in before finding their forever home. Community Members and Tazewell County Animal Shelter staff gathered for the ribbon cutting of their new facility located on Camp Joy Road.

A much bigger and updated facility than their current one features an intake center for those that need to bring in an animal, nursing room for pregnant or new born animals, grooming area, and adoption center. Director of the Tazewell County Animal Shelter, Ginny Dawson, stressed that their current shelter is small and crowded, which is sometimes intimidating to previously abused animals. She believes this new location will be a much better environment for both the animals and families that are looking to take them home.

“We wanted to try to build a facility that could cut down on that stress and help with socialization and medical needs for the animals,” Dawson said. “We want to provide them with the best environment that we can to care for them while we find them a forever home.”

  The staff will take the rest of the year to relocate to the new facility. For that reason, the Shelter will not officially open to the public until January 3rd.