Mayor Jeff Bickerstaff cuts the ribbon for the new Sachse Animal Shelter Saturday, Oct. 26, as the police chief, city manager, city council and stakeholders look on. The shelter, built using 2021 bond funds, took just over one year to build and can handle double the capacity of animals.

In just 15 months since breaking ground, Sachse city officials, residents and community stakeholders gathered on Saturday, Oct. 26, for the grand opening of the city’s new animal shelter.

The ceremony, which began at 9 a.m., included remarks from Police Chief Bryan Sylvester, City Manager Gina Nash and Mayor Jeff Bickerstaff, each expressing pride in the facility’s completion and the community’s commitment to animal welfare.

“This facility reflects our shared vision and dedication to our animals,” said Police Chief Bryan Sylvester, who is also in charge of Animal Control. “It was almost nine months of daily work on their part to incorporate things that I didn’t even know we needed— and be the go between— between the city and the contractor, to make sure that everything was within the quality that we wanted, the design features that we wanted.”

City Manager Gina Nash highlighted the importance of the shelter as a milestone for the city’s commitment to animal care. “Today marks more than just the opening of a building—it’s a new chapter in Sachse’s commitment to caring for animals in need,” she said. “For years, our dedicated staff made the best of a facility never designed for sheltering. This new space was born from a powerful vision: to create a place where ‘New Beginnings’ happen naturally.”

According to Nash, the shelter, designed to encourage human-animal connections, features bright, welcoming spaces, comfortable meeting rooms for potential pet families and modern amenities that ensure top-notch care for animals awaiting adoption.

“This facility was designed to create those magical moments when a family finds their purpose,” Nash added.

Mayor Jeff Bickerstaff extended his thanks to the 2021 bond committee, the city council, and community supporters, particularly former council and parks board member Cullen King for his advocacy on behalf of the city’s animals.

“This isn’t just a building,” he said. “It’s a reflection of our community and this would not be possible without our community coming together, wanting the best, not only for us, but for our furry friends.”

Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees toured the shelter, enjoyed free giveaways and were encouraged to adopt, reinforcing the shelter’s commitment to animal welfare and community engagement.

As guests toured the facility, Sylvester detailed some of the facility’s state-of-the-art features.

“We took a holistic approach to service delivery, focusing on how we can better care for our animals and employees,” he said.

Amenities include an on-site lab for animal care, two bathing stations, and a specialized quarantine area with ventilation to reduce airborne pathogens. The shelter also has shower facilities for staff.

Animal Control Supervisor Terri O’Neal, who worked for 17 years in the city’s former repurposed shelter, expressed her excitement about the new facility.

“Every morning when I come to work, I think, ‘I get to work here,’” she said.

Since the move, the shelter’s capacity has nearly doubled.

“We came in with nine dogs and now we have 21,” O’Neal said.

The shelter can accommodate up to 26 dogs, with four kennels dedicated to quarantine said O’Neal. For cats, the facility includes eight cubbies, a condo for kittens and additional space to hold up to 25 cats as needed.

“It’s beautiful and functional, built with the animals in mind,” O’Neal said. “We feel really lucky.”

Until further notice, the shelter is offering no-fee adoptions to help find forever homes for its animals.

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