The Levelland City Council approved a proposal for facility planning and design for a new animal shelter by Freese and Nichols last week.
With the existing animal shelter in severe disrepair as well as being compromised by storm damage in 2024, a replacement is needed that will provide a safe, clean working environment for staff and an inviting public space for the efficient intake, care and adoption of animals. On Aug. 25, 2025, the city council approved $3 million in Certificates of Obligation for the new animal services facility.
The proposal and schematics layouts include key public-facing spaces, secure animal-handling areas, and back-of-house support functions, and focuses on confirming operational needs, refining the layout and producing construction documents for competitive bidding and construction.
The plan and schematics include a reception area for visitors and meet and greet rooms, staff offices, breakroom and work areas, intake/evaluation with secure circulation to animal housing, 30 kennels for dog housing with drainage and water access, 10 cat kennels with water access for cleaning and animal care, separate dog and cat meet-and-greet rooms with handwashing sinks, a cleaning and laundry room, food storage and prep space, small janitorial room, secure room for vaccines and medications with refrigeration, a sally port and drive-through for intake, bathing and grooming capability and waste-control strategies, as well as a TV display for adoptable pets.
Freese and Nichols proposes to provide services for $561,739 and will assist with bidder questions and addenda during the bid period and prepare an opinion of probable construction cost and construction documents.
The current animal shelter is located at 109 Commerce Street in the Levelland Industrial Rail Park and is open Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. to noon, and 2 to 4 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interviews are required prior to the finalization of adoption to ensure animals are going home to a friendly environment.