Public invited to opening of new Kerr County Animal Control facility

Kerr County Animal Control is inviting the public to a ribbon cutting and open house Friday celebrating the completion of its new $6 million facility at 199 Spur 100 in Kerrville.

The ceremony is set for 1 p.m. at the new Kerr County Animal Control facility. County Judge Rob Kelly, KCAC Director Reagan Givens, former Precinct 3 Commissioner Jonathan Letz, contractor Kevin Bernhard of JK Bernhard Construction and Kerrville Pets Alive! Executive Director Karen Guerriero are expected to speak.

A ribbon cutting will follow remarks, after which the public is invited to tour the approximately 15,000-square-foot structure.

The new facility replaces the old animal control center, which had been described as crowded, inefficient, inhumane and unhealthy. Kerr County voters approved the project in November 2022 as Proposition C, the only one of three bond measures on the ballot to pass. It carried with 55.09% of the vote.

Architect Peter Lewis designed the building. JK Bernhard Construction served as general contractor.

Givens, who has led the department since 2017, said the new facility’s purpose-built layout will be a major improvement over years of makeshift fixes at the old site.

“In the old facility, we were constantly battling to put a bandage on things and to work around issues that arose with that site,” Givens said. “Getting to start out new in a building that has specific areas designed for specific purposes to suit our actual day-to-day operational needs will be great. It is like starting out fresh with a clean slate for these animals, our staff and the citizens of Kerr County.”

Staff plan to begin moving donated furniture and equipment into the facility in the coming days.