Liberty County has a new Animal Control facility on Lee Place Road.

Liberty County commissioners, administrators and Animal Control employees recently had a ribbon cutting, allowing the public to tour the building and kennels.

County Administrator Joey Brown said the 4,000-square-foot, block-and-metal building cost $1.5 million. The money came from the special purpose local option sales tax.

The front of the building houses a reception area, restroom, break room for employees and office spaces for Director Randy Durrence and the three Animal Control officers.

The building sits on approximately 5 acres of land.

The back of the building houses the kennels that have self-watering bowls, beds and a sliding door to the adjacent outside pens. This allows the animals to have more mobility and access to outdoors while the inside is cleaned. It also provides shelter from inclement weather.

There are a few specialized isolation and quarantine kennels.

Durrence said the fenced areas outside are used by rescue groups who help socialize the animals. Rescue groups work with the county facility, hoping to decrease the number of euthanized animals. Local rescues can pull animals and place them into foster homes.

"The building replaces an outdated residential structure with one that safely, and efficiently allows for the handling and storage of animals," Brown said.

The older building, off Briarwood Circle, shared a small section of the building with Liberty Humane Shelter, a no-kill rescue.

LHS will be allowed to use the remainder of the old Animal Control building and is in the process of funding projects to complete an expansion.