The shelter, located at 1855 SE Inner Loop, Georgetown, takes in more than 8,000 animals each year and has been designated a "no-kill" shelter for eight years.
WCRAS Animal Services Director Cheryl Schneider said during a Williamson County Commissioners Court meeting Feb. 26 that she was surprised by the grant amount, having initially applied for a $99,000 grant. She said the Petco Foundation said it decided to give the shelter a larger donation after looking into the work it does.
“We have consistently saved a lot of animals’ lives with very little,” Schneider said.
WCRAS will open its new expansion on March 14. The $10.5 million project will create a separate adoption center and add 64 canine kennels and 93 feline kennels to the shelter.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey, who also sits on the shelter’s board, said the grant proves the great work being done at the shelter.
“[The grant] was not what was expected, it was not what was asked for, it was much more,” Covey said.