Proposition 1 Would Replace Casper’s Overcrowded Metro Animal Shelter
Wyomingites love animals. For many, animals are the reason they live here. It could be a cattle ranch, a farm, the wildlife industry, conservation projects, veterinarians, animal specialists, or maybe an animal shelter, but the animal industry is huge here.
The City of Casper's Metro Animal Shelter is a major player in that industry, and, according to the city, it's aging, failing, and undersized for the number of animals housed there at any one time.
Metro doesn't just benefit Casper, but serves residents across Natrona County, including the Town of Bar Nunn and the City of Mills. The shelter responds to approximately 6,000 calls for service each year and takes in roughly 2,300 animals annually, including stray, surrendered, and criminal-case animals.
The current facility is over 40 years old and is overcrowded. Originally, it was designed to hold up to 30 dogs, but at times can house up to 50. That makes it difficult for staff to give the animals proper care and to operate as it's supposed to.
There is an ongoing effort to build a new facility that would provide more space for animals, safer, more efficient kennel and intake areas, and updated heating, ventilation, and sewer infrastructure to better support daily operations.
Proposition #1 provides $7.3 million (plus any interest earned) to reconstruct the Metro Animal Shelter. You can see the stages of the process and the current status on the graph below.
According to the city, the new facility will be better equipped to support the community by continuing to:
- Providing pet adoption services
- Accepting animals owners can no longer care for
- Housing animals involved in criminal investigations
- Managing dangerous animals
- Caring for strays and lost pets until they can be reunited with owners or rehomed
By ensuring adequate space, safer operations, and reliable infrastructure, this project helps protect public health, reduce stray animal populations, and provide safe housing and care for animals in need.