By T. Scott Boatright
It appears the new Ruston Animal Control Facility that has been under construction for the past year is nearing an opening date.
That’s after a social media post made by the City of Ruston on Wednesday that read, “Hold onto your leashes, folks! The grand unveiling of the City of Ruston’s brand new Animal Control Facility is on the horizon, and we’re pumped! Our mission? Creating an environment so pawsitively awesome that our future pet parents and their fluffy companions will be doing happy dances. So, buckle up, because the inside scoop is just a tail wag away!”
But while the post was made earlier in the day, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker told the Lincoln Pabrish Journal Wednesday evening that no firm date has been set yet.
“Not at this time,” Walker said when asked if a date for the facility’s opening is in place.
The 7,142-square-foot facility, located at 1212 McAllister Street in Ruston, will be equipped with an observation unit containing up to 58 adoption kennels, five observation kennels, a cat adoption condo, and a feline isolation area.
An additional wing will hold up to 41 kennels, with each of those having an indoor area with an outdoor run separated by a sliding doorway.
The south side of both kennel sections will include a play yard for exercise and enrichment. In the center of the shelter building will be an enclosed animal loading and unloading garage complete with a bath station and intake exam room to ensure animal safety.
Current local animal shelters are holding capacity limits of animals, so the need for the new facility is a crucial one.
Earlier this summer the a Lincoln Parish Police Jury committee entered into talks with the city of Ruston to consider potentially teaming on the new facility looking for a long-term solution to stray animal problems throughout the parish, but Lincoln Parish Administrator Courteny Hall said those talks have entered into a sort of holding pattern waiting for the outcome a November election that will decide seven of the LPPJ’s 12 seats.
In addition to the current Ruston Animal Control facility, Lincoln Parish also has a no-kill shelter in 4-Paws Rescue Inc., but both of those are currently filled to capacity or near to it.
A news release from the City of Ruston around the time of the new Animal Control Facility’s groundbreaking in July of 2022 read, “The need is significant as community shelters and kennels are reaching full capacity. Animal shelters play a vital role in uniting animals with new owners, reuniting animals with their owners, advocating animal health with spay and neuter programs, and celebrating our community connection with adoption events.”
