'A sigh of relief': Stillwater voters approve new $8.75 million animal welfare center

The City of Stillwater is getting a new animal welfare center after residents passed a major General Obligation (GO) bond during Tuesday night’s election.

The $8.75 million bond project aims to triple the size of Stillwaters’ current facility, which hasn’t been updated in over 4 decades.

Issues with the current facility

The Stillwater Animal Welfare Center was built in 1984, and city officials say it’s been poorly maintained since.

Limited space, HVAC issues, and poor drainage are some of the main issues that make shelter employees' jobs difficult.

“It's difficult to work here, but we make it work because we do it for the animal’s sake,” Stillwater Animal Welfare Supervisor Rachel Wasserman said.

Currently, the facility is only 3,000 square feet serving the entire city of Stillwater.

“13 kennels for adoptable dogs and then 13 kennels for strays or animals that are under quarantine,” Wasserman said.

Improvements to be made

The multimillion-dollar bond package will allow the city to build a 12 thousand square foot shelter with at least 46 kennels.

“It's an exciting time in Stillwater,” Stillwater chief public affairs officer Dawn Dodson said.

She has spent years advocating for this project.

“It was established as a need for safety and health,a need that we needed to address back in 2021,” she said.

The new facility, which will be 2 miles from the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medicine program, will help enhance animal care services, including adoptions, spay and neutering, and pet owner education.

Details of the bond

The GO bond passed overwhelmingly with a 74% yes vote.

The $8.75 million will pay out over 15 years and cost property owners about 60 dollars annually, based on a home valued at 240 thousand dollars.

“Just a sigh of relief and it just it still doesn't feel real,” Wasserman said.

Wasserman and her team hope the upgraded resources will allow them to better serve the Stillwater community.

“We're going to be able to give these animals a better facility in the future, and we're so happy about that,” she said.