Grapevine Animal Services held an Open House on April 23 to celebrate their first year of business in their new digs, located at 500 Shady Brook Lane. This building is about three times the size of the original, which did not have the space and modern services that are required more often in this day and age.
The Open House featured shelter tours, a coloring contest, crafts for animals (paw prints), giveaways, adoption specials, face painting, a microchip clinic, raffles, Wise Guys Pizza, the Grapevine Mobile Library, music, police and fire vehicles, and popsicles for humans and dogs.
Crafts for KidsPhotosGrapevine Fire DepartmentYzma the SnakeDoggie Learns About Fire ServicesTwo Girls Lifting 20 lb. Air TanksMicrochip ClinicSaying Hello, Kitty!Real Fire HazardsFace PaintingThe Grapevine Mobile Library
Hello Readers! It’s our 10th anniversary! To celebrate, we’re giving away a goodie bag filled with stuff from awesome businesses and organizations in Grapevine! The winner will receive:
A 4-Pack of Tickets to go on the Nightwatchman Ghost Tour, courtesy of Grape Vine Springs Winery
A cooler bag filled with goodies for your pet, you, and your kids from Grapevine Animal Services, Grapevine Police, and Grapevine Fire
YOU MUST BE A RESIDENT OF GRAPEVINE, TX TO ENTER
How to Enter:
Leave a comment under this post on our Facebook page telling us EITHER why you enjoy the Grapevine Source OR what you would like to see added/changed
Tag someone who is unfamiliar with us in your comment
Contest ends at midnight on May 1, 2022
The WINNER will be drawn randomly from eligible entries. You will be notified via Facebook if you win. Feel free to leave your email address in your comment if you’d rather be notified that way.
The Grapevine Animal Services and Adoption Center was torn down back in 2019. Fortunately, a new building had been funded by a 2017 bond election. In the meantime, while the shelter was closed, Grapevine was able to depend on Coppell’s Animal Services to help out so that abandoned, found and surrendered animals would have somewhere to go. THANK YOU, COPPELL!
I received an invitation to the official Ribbon Cutting that was going to take place on April 17.
On that day, I drove up to the new building and noticed how large it was! It is about four times larger than the old facility, measuring 13,500 square feet, compared to 2,600 for the old building. It contains new, up-to-date features such as sound-reducing panels, wall colors that are scientifically proven to have a calming effect on animals, solar lights, more windows for natural light, separate rooms for animals to meet their potential forever families, state-of-the-art veterinary tools and separate spaces for parties and educational programs.
The outside, which used to be very small and, honestly, kind of depressing, are now beautiful, covered, fenced-in courtyards and covered semi-open areas where dogs can get some much-needed exercise.
The Ribbon Cutting was attended by Grapevine Police Chief Mike Hamlin, Police Chaplain Dr. Terry Wilson, Sr., Mayor William D. Tate and Grapevine City Council members Paul Slechta, Sharron Rogers, Leon Leal, Darlene Freed, Chris Coy and Duff O’Dell.
Since Animal Services are under the umbrella of the police department, I spoke with Grapevine PD’s Chief Hamlin about his agency’s role in the project.
“As a police department, we were pretty heavily involved. Kristina Valentine, the supervisor over the shelter, was the ‘tip of the spear’ for us and this project,” Hamlin said. “But she and I spent a great deal of time talking. I have an internal team that was devoted to just kind of talking about [the project], whether it be design, workflows, brainstorming and that kind of thing.
During the planning stage, Valentine, Hamlin and members of City Council toured several local animal shelters to see what was going on in other places.
“I think the medical piece of this shelter is profound. So many [medical suites] that we visited, and I understand why, were converted closets, or they would identify a ‘dead space,’ in their building, and they would construct a little cut-out to be able to put a table in there with the necessary supplies for them to do surgeries,” Hamlin explained.
“I give a lot of credit to our councilmembers that toured with us. They saw [that issue], and they really understood first-hand the importance of if we were or were not going to move in that direction, and we had conversations about it. Ultimately, that was not the direction they wanted to go. They said that if we’re going to [have a medical suite], then let’s find a way to do it right,” Hamlin said.
I had such a good time meeting new people and petting their canine companions. One sweet dog decided that she wanted to say hello, and so I scratched her ears and her back, and she had me and her person laughing by rolling over for tummy scratches! I’m so glad that this City service is back up and running!
The new Grapevine Animal Services Building officially opened its doors on April 19 and holds the hours of Monday – Friday from 11:00am until 5:00pm and on Saturday from 10:00am until 2:00pm.
GRAPEVINE, TX – Grapevine Animal Services will officially open its new animal shelter to the public on Monday, April 19, 2021. The new facility is part of a citizen-approved 2017 bond election, and at more than 13,500 square feet, is approximately three times the size of its former building.
The new shelter is designed and built to the highest industry safety standards for animals and people. Each room and living space has its own air system to prevent the potential spread of illness. Solar tubes, windows and natural lighting are set up throughout the shelter, and sound-reducing panels are installed to limit noise between rooms.
Dogs and cats have double-sided housing, which means they can eat and sleep in an area separate from elimination. This also helps with daily cleaning during inclement weather days, or when it is not safe to go outside.
There are separate rooms for adoption, quarantine, medical isolation, and stray or surrendered animals, as well as meet-and-greet rooms for families and a community room for group activities, educational events and birthday parties.
The new animal shelter includes several covered outdoor areas that can be easily cleaned and allow for water play and other enrichment activities. A fenced outdoor courtyard allows families to visit with adoptable pups in a natural setting and bring current dogs to meet.
A veterinary space is also included in the building, so animals can receive onsite medical care. The front lobby of the shelter includes a storefront where families can purchase supplies such as food, bowls and toys.
“We are thrilled to offer a shelter that is safe, loving and humane for the animals in need within our community. Our staff and volunteers have spent countless hours making sure that everything about the shelter, down to the fear-free color palette, was designed with the utmost care. We can’t wait to welcome people and animals into Grapevine Animal Services,” says Kristina Valentine, Grapevine Animal Services Manager.
Grapevine Animal Services shelter hours will be Monday-Friday, 11am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm, and closed on Sundays.
For folks that are hoping to adopt a dog or cat from the Grapevine Animal Shelter, a surprise may be in store for them instead of a family pet.
Right now, only rubble occupies the lot at 500 Shady Brook Drive. The shelter was relocated to Coppell at the end of November 2019 so that the existing building could be demolished. A new, larger facility will take its place. This new building will be almost three times larger than the original.
The project is being paid for by a 2017 bond election.
Graphic Courtesy of the City of Grapevine
“We are very excited to provide a functional and beautiful building that will be meet best practices and provide health and safety for the animals, visitors, volunteers, and staff,” a representative of the shelter said.
“The thing that struck me about the building that used to be here was the size. I could see why they would want to increase the size of the new building and give it a lot more footage,” said Jim Goucher, Superintendent of Steele & Freeman, Inc. Construction Managers.
“We have a Fall 2020 completion date, and the weather can play a big factor in that. Right now, we are tracking on target for that,” Goucher said. “We are getting beat on by the rainy weather, but we anticipate an on-time finish. Currently we are setting the foundation into place, along with the grade support beams, the plumbing and the slab. Once we get that done, it gives us something to go straight up with,” Goucher explained.
Photo Courtesy of Steele & Freeman Construction Managers
Photo Courtesy of Steele & Freeman Construction Managers
Goucher also said that several citizens have come to the site, either because they weren’t aware of the construction or had questions about where they can go to adopt a pet.
All adoptable Grapevine animals are still available at Coppell Animal Services, located at 821 S. Coppell Rd. Coppell, TX 75019. They are open Monday – Saturday from 9am – 5pm and Sunday from 1pm – 5pm. The phone number at the Coppell location is 972.304.3515.
Cats are available at the Southlake PetSmart store, located at 200 Village Center Drive. The phone number at PetSmart is 817.251.6848 and they are open Monday – Saturday from 9am until 9pm and Sunday from 10am until 7pm.
To reach Grapevine Animal Services, call 817.410.3370. They continue to provide field services, such as responding to animal concerns and loose/stray animals, deceased animal pickup, ordinance enforcement, and animal bite reporting.
We are just one week away from the annual Clear the Shelters event at Grapevine Animal Shelter and Adoption Center on Saturday, August 17. Adoption fees will be waived for all available dogs and cats in Grapevine. Whether you’re looking for your first pet, or just want an addition to your family, come check out the animals we have ready and waiting for adoption.
Our shelter will be open 9:30-5:00 on Saturday, August 17 for Clear the Shelters. The address is: 500 Shady Brook Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051. Hope to see you there!
The 21st annual “Take Your Dog To Work Day” took place on Friday, June 21. This “holiday” was first celebrated in 1999 and was created by Pet Sitters International as a time to encourage employers and employees to experience the benefits of pets in the workplace, as well as promote pet adoptions from local shelters.
This year, Grapevine Animal Services partnered with the Records Department of the Police Department to bring several different pups from the shelter to hang out in the Records Office and the Front Office. Animal Services operates under the umbrella of the Police Department.
Hooch gets excited about a treat
The idea for this event in the Public Safety Building came from the ladies in the Records Department, as this was the first time they had invited dogs into the building, with the exception of K-9 Police Officers, of course.
“The folks in the Records Department found out about National Take Your Dog to Work Day and they basically asked for it to happen and came up with a plan. They even had t-shirts made. Basically, all I did was make the dogs show up,” said Animal Services Manager Kristina Valentine with a grin.
The lovely ladies in the Records Department pose with Hooch
“Their idea was that since we can’t bring our own personal pets to work, we could showcase some from the animal shelter. So, as part of the Police Department, Records and Animal Services are working together to have the dogs come to Records for the day. The idea is to get them out of the shelter environment. Sometimes you can’t get to know their personalities when they are kept in the shelter. Sure, you can play with them, but that’s such a short thing. This is more of an office environment – it’s quiet and there are people in and out, and so they really just enjoy the time to roam around and just be a dog,” Valentine added.
The ladies invited me into the Records room to meet Hooch, a very friendly “mutt.” Valentine said that she’s not sure of his breed – she guessed part Mastiff – but she is sure of his sweet demeanor and love for people and other dogs. He’s still a young pup – less than two years old.
Lola gives her new friend in Records a paw shake
In the front office, I got to meet Lola, a beautiful black and white mix, who is also less than two years old.
Both dogs were selected for their calm demeanors, but Valentine was ready to take them back to the shelter if they didn’t take to the office environment.
“You’d think they’d been here every day,” Valentine said. “They are having a good time and have not been violent or even growly to anyone all day.”
Hooch and Lola, as well as the other animals at Grapevine Animal Shelter, will be available for adoption on Saturday, June 22 from 9:00am until 12:00pm at the Shelter, which is located at 500 Shady Brook Drive. For more information, call 817-410-3370 or visit https://www.grapevinetexas.gov/1284/Adopt.
"It always amazes me to think that every house on every street is full of so many stories; so many triumphs and tragedies, and all we see are yards and driveways." - Glenn Close
For folks that are hoping to adopt a dog or cat from the 
The 21st annual “Take Your Dog To Work Day” took place on Friday, June 21. This “holiday” was first celebrated in 1999 and was created by Pet Sitters International as a time to encourage employers and employees to experience the benefits of pets in the workplace, as well as promote pet adoptions from local shelters.
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