LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Saturday, the Little Rock Animal Village (LRAV) held a ribbon cutting and celebration as they unveiled 1,600 square feet of new space.
The city’s animal shelter originally opened in 2007, but in recent years has struggled with capacity issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.
"The overpopulation is unbelievable,” Little Rock Animal Services Manager Tracy Roark said. “People think dogs when they think it, but cats... we're just overrun with animals."
That’s one of the reasons why the shelter was so excited to announce these upgrades.
"We've added a dog wash,” Roark said. “Brand new washers and dryers, a photo room, dog testing room, a new soundproof cat area, a new intake area.”
Roark said he was particularly excited about the new photo and dog-testing room, which will allow the LRAV to evaluate its dogs in a quiet environment to “determine how good a pet they will be.”
But volunteers are excited about more than just the new areas—they redid some of the old ones, too.
"They also replaced every kennel in the whole building,” said Betsy Robb, a Friends of the Little Rock Animal Village volunteer. “It's hundreds of kennels. It was a big project, big labor of love."
Robb said the LRAV receives thousands of animals each year, so she thought the new intake area would be particularly helpful.
North Little Rock-based Doyne Construction Company completed the project, and its president was among many who spoke to attendees before the ribbon-cutting and tour.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and Joan Adcock, a city director whom Scott called the “Animal Czar,” were also at the event.
Adcock spoke about her view that pets should be spayed and neutered to prevent shelters from being overpopulated. She even said that in September, the shelter will spay 40 dogs and 30 cats owned by homeless persons at no cost to the city.
“Spay and neutering is the only answer to this situation,” Roark said.
In his speech, Scott discussed a 2010 sales tax increase that he credits with funding these upgrades and thanked the Little Rock Board of Directors for their help in supporting this project.
He also used the opportunity to encourage people to vote for the upcoming sales tax, using the LRAV's progress as an example of what could happen in other parts of the city.
"If you want something new in your city, if you want to take care of the existing things in your city, we have to pay for it," Scott said. "That's why we are pursuing the November 5 sales tax."
After the speakers finished, employees were happy to cut the ribbon and show off the new areas.
Scott even got to work and used the new dog wash area to clean one of the shelter’s 300 animals.
"We do all the great things related to cleaning them and making certain they have all their tests and shots,” Scott said. “We want to be a place that you visit when you're choosing to get your new furry friend."
The LRAV also offered free adoptions on Saturday, which likely won’t be the last time they do so.
“We waive adoption fees pretty regularly to help encourage people to come and get an animal from the Little Rock Animal Village,” Robb said. “Every animal adopted from this shelter is sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped... for zero dollars, that's a deal you can't beat.”