The City of Dayton has officially opened its new animal shelter, providing a modern facility to care for stray and abandoned cats and dogs while giving residents a convenient location to adopt pets.
City officials joined the Trinity Valley Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 4, celebrating the completion of the approximately 3,300-square-foot facility, located at 2111 Waco St., directly behind the Dayton Police Department on North Cleveland Street.
“We’re so thrilled to have this addition right here in the heart of Dayton,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tonya Smikal during the ceremony. “They are going to be able to have pet adoptions here on site.”
The new shelter can accommodate approximately 32 dogs in indoor kennels, according to Dayton City Manager Derek Woods. During emergencies or periods of increased demand, the facility can accommodate additional dogs in outdoor kennels. Dogs housed at the shelter will have access to both indoor and outdoor areas.
Dayton Police Chief Shane Burleigh said the facility was designed with the city’s future needs in mind.
“The shelter is built to where it can be added onto in the future,” Burleigh said.
The location was also a practical choice for the city, allowing the shelter to be built on property Dayton already owned and keeping animal control operations close to the police department.
“That’s why we chose this location because the city already owned this property,” Woods said. “It just really made sense to have it here since animal control is under the police department.”
The shelter is staffed by two animal control officers, Danyell Trousdale and Makayla Darbonne.
The facility will initially be open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those hours may be adjusted once operations are fully established. The shelter will serve animals picked up within Dayton city limits and is not intended to accept animals from outside the city. However, pet adoptions will be open to everyone, including residents of surrounding communities.
Burleigh and Woods said the city is also exploring the possibility of allowing volunteers to assist at the shelter. However, some legal issues must first be addressed before a volunteer program can be established.
In the meantime, residents who want to support the shelter can donate pet food and other pet care supplies. Donations should be arranged in advance to ensure adequate indoor storage space is available.
The shelter cost approximately $800,000 and was funded through certificates of obligation approved by the Dayton City Council in 2023. The shelter was one of several improvements financed through the city’s $8 million funding package, which also included a water well and street projects.
Woods said the shelter’s completion was a citywide effort, with employees from multiple departments contributing to the project.
“Every city department in the city of Dayton, in some shape or form helped with this facility. They all had their hands in it, from finance to public works to the police department. Everybody worked really hard on this and we’re really proud of this facility,” Woods said.
For more information about the Dayton Animal Shelter, pet adoptions or arranging donations, call 936-258-7621.
