The new Angels of Assisi facility is getting closer to opening

Roanoke, Virginia – After almost five years, Angels of Assisi is expanding its efforts to care for animals and find them homes as the nonprofit gets ready to move by the end of the year.

“It is our responsibility to keep animals healthy and in their homes. “Healthy pets lead to healthy communities,” stated Lisa O’Neill, executive director of Angels of Assisi.

What will soon be the new Angels of Assisi facility is located on the junction of Elm Avenue and Franklin Road Southwest. The private animal shelter has been operating from its current location on Campbell Avenue Southwest since 2003, but this is a significant change.

We’ve outgrown our 94-year-old facility altogether. We are aware that it has taken a while, but we had to go through zoning, COVID-19, post-COVID, permissions with the city, and other procedures. We’re this close right now, and that’s what matters,” O’Neill added.

Dogs can wander the rooftop of the 14,000-square-foot, two-story facility for outdoor play. More space will be available for wellness examinations, emergency care, spay and neuter procedures, and brand-new CT and X-ray equipment. There will also be distinct areas for dogs and cats.

We will be moving from two exam rooms to six, which will make a significant difference. By increasing the number of operation cables from two to six, we will be able to assist animals remain healthy and in their homes. The fact that we created this facility specifically for our needs and flow, rather than attempting to fit in, is one of its greatest features, O’Neill said. “This property was unexpectedly donated to us. One day, we received a call from a kind man who is assisting with the procedure. He said, “Hey, why don’t you build a new building?” as we were sitting in his office in a state of shock. That’s when the dream began, and we’ve been traveling ever since.

The adoption area is located on the second floor.

“Compared to our current setup, this area was intended to make the dog kennels much more efficient. In addition to being built to provide the dog with as much enrichment as possible, the kennels will be incredibly simple to clean and maintain. They will be fronted with glass.
They will have built-in food bowls and spaces for their bedding and goodies. The employees’ jobs will be lot easier as a result, allowing them to devote more time to playgroups and training,” O’Neill stated.

The new headquarters is drawing attention to the need to find shelter animals a home amid a lackluster pet adoption market, particularly with regard to dogs.

Wonderful creatures are waiting for homes at shelters. We are their home while they are with us or another organization, so this facility will really improve their home,” O’Neill stated.

November was proclaimed “Virginia Loves Shelter Animals Month” by Governor Glenn Youngkin. It works to make Virginia animal shelters “no-kill,” which means that at least 90% of the companion animals that enter the facility survive.

In order to assist folks in finding a furry friend, Angels of Assisi and eight nearby animal shelters are holding their yearly Pet Expo Adopt-A-Thon at the Berglund Center.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, the Pet Expo will be held. More than 100 puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, and other small creatures will be available for adoption. The event will also feature a Blood Drive truck and vendors.