Burke County Animal Services’ new animal shelter, at 636 Kirksey Drive, has twice the space compared to the old building.
MICA BANKS / THE PAPER
After years of cramped space and crowding at its old facility, Burke County has finished building a 16,000-square-foot animal shelter designed to expand care and minimize euthanasia, but non-emergency intake remains paused until inspections are complete.
County staff and officials celebrated the building’s completion yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The county broke ground on the project in November 2024. The new building was fully funded by $50,000 raised by the Animal Services Foundation along with state and federal grants.
Every year, Burke’s animal shelter takes in about 2,500 strays and surrenders, said County Manager Brian Epley.
The old building only had 16 dog kennels and even fewer cat kennels. For a county aiming to avoid euthanizing animals, that wasn’t enough space.
The new shelter, at 636 Kirksey Drive, is 16,000 square feet and has 36 dog kennels and 44 cat kennels.
Animal services has paused all non-emergency intakes during the transitional period. The new building will be inspected in early April, and if it passes all inspections, all animal intake will resume April 7.
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