ODESSA, Texas — The animal population in Midland and Odessa has often been described as extremely overcrowded.
However, the animal shelter in Odessa is hoping a facility improvement will give their furry friends a better chance of being adopted into loving homes.
Over the course of nine months, the shelter installed a new covering over their playpen area.
When speaking about the installation, Odessa City Councilman Greg Connell, who also serves on the Odessa Shelter Advisory Committee, made a comparison about animals that are special to the community.
"Have you ever been to a zoo and take pictures, and you pet the pets and then you leave with the memories," Connell said. "At the shelter here today, we also have an amazing assembly of pets. The difference is they're waiting for a home."
While these animals wait for that forever home, Connell added that the covering is important because it can be utilized 24 hours a day for exercise.
Rain or shine, the pups can play all day.
In West Texas, it is mostly needed for heat protection, a fact that shelter manager Kelly Hendricks quickly discovered.
"After we moved in, we found that the artificial turf that we have is extremely hot in the summer time and can harm dogs," Hendricks said.
With the added shade, Hendricks and Connell agree it will greatly improve the dogs' mental and physical health.
Hendricks explained that the dogs stay cooler outside under the cover.
"It can be 102 degrees or 103 degrees outside, but it's significantly cooler under here, so they can stay out longer," Hendricks said. "They don't get heat stroke from the heat, and once they go back inside the building, they're ready to lay down in in that air conditioning and go to sleep. Just like a baby.”
This enhancement will also boost the chances of these dogs finding their forever homes.
“You see a larger dog and you want to really kind of play with them, you don't have the opportunity when the animal is behind the cage," Connell said. "Now you can take it out into the exercise area and enjoy the animal. If you have an animal at home and you're wondering that he needs a friend, he needs a buddy, you can bring him along and we can put the two dogs together.”
Improvements like this go to show that when someone gives back to their community, this is likely to be a pawsitive experience.
Adoptions events are held often in Odessa, so if anyone is looking to bring home a forever friend, or if they would like to volunteer their time to support the well-being of these animals, visit Odessa Animal Services or call (432) 368-3527.