The Fairfax County Animal Shelter will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Saturday, May 17, to celebrate the official completion of the shelter’s renovation and expansion project. Festivities will begin with a ribbon cutting and remarks at 1 p.m.
Behind-the-scenes shelter tours, face-painting and hands-on interaction with rabbits, guinea pigs and small reptiles will be part of the fun. Features of the new shelter include separate lobbies for adoption and receiving, new animal-holding spaces, a small-animal room, play yards, training rooms, a veterinary suite and visitation areas for adopters to meet pets.
In addition, Fairfax County recently became the largest jurisdiction in the United States with an animal placement rate above 90 percent. In March, the shelter received the Compassion Award from the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies for its lifesaving efforts and is being recognized as a regional and national leader in best practices in animal welfare.
The upcoming ribbon-cutting and open house will let visitors see the new shelter and learn about available animals, as well as programs and classes for dog, cat and small animal enthusiasts. The shelter is at 4500 West Ox Road and is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter.