RACC could be expanding, but they need your help

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) is looking to expand its services with a new shelter on Cary Street.

“We sort of want to blow up any preconceptions of a sad, dingy place where animals go to die, into a place that you can come in and visit and hang out,” said Director Christie Chipps Peter. “We want to offer some courses and classes and opportunities. That is a beautiful space for the animals to get adopted.”

Located at 2310 W Cary St., Peters said the new location will cost around $2 million. But as overcrowding continues at the current Chamberlayne Avenue location, she said it’s necessary.

“Operations are sort of stuck at this point in time. We don’t have large dog isolation space, we don’t have separate cat adoptable space, and the community need is growing exponentially,” she said.

Peters said the current location would still be used, just for court cases, quarantining and to hold stray animals that aren’t ready for adoption yet.

“The new space will only house everything that’s ready to leave adoptable,” she said.  “So, that allows us to have more room here to move dogs the way that they should be housed.”

However, support is needed from the public — as well as the City Council — to bring the project to fruition.

“The papers have been submitted and we have passed through the planning commission,” Peters said. “The City Council meets on Oct. 1. So we do need the community to voice your opinions.”

If you want to support this expansion, send an email to CityClerksOffice@rva.gov by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

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