FLINT TWP, MI - Big changes are expected to begin in spring 2018 at Genesee County Animal Control as a plan several years in the making to renovate the facility become a reality.

The Genesee County Board of Commissioners approved a $10 million bond on Monday, Jan. 8, that will allow for a roughly 10,000-square foot expansion at the decades-old facility off Pasadena Avenue in Flint Township.

Having taken over as director of Genesee County Animal Control three years ago this month, Paul Wallace said the first resolution beginning the process for the renovation was passed in September 2016.

"We knew there was something that needed to be done, but frankly I needed to get a lot of things straightened out before we could even begin to think about tearing this place apart and fixing it," he said.

Part of those changes included turning the facility into a no-kill shelter.

"In seven days, unless it's a valuable animal, it's supposed to be put asleep," said Wallace. "That was the law. That's how they operated and that's still the law in this county. We don't do things like that. It just doesn't roll like that anymore, so we're outlaws."

A behavioral assessment takes place on each animal coming into the facility, Wallace said.

Mark Young, chairman of the county commission, lauded the 90-plus percent save rate of animals.

During the 2016 calendar year alone, the facility took in 2,166 dogs, with 792 adopted, 307 returned to owners, 320 transferred to other shelters, while 269 were euthanized following a medical evaluation and 194 owner-requested euthanasia procedures.

"We've received awards as the most-improved shelter in the state of Michigan," Young said. "It's been an outstanding change from where we were a few years ago."

With a background rooted in law enforcement, Wallace admitted it took some time for him to build a network of contacts in the animal community that can step forward to help out when space may be running short.

"Some places don't have as many animals as we do," he said during a recent interview in his office. "That was something that we had to kind of foster. You have to cooperate. The animal community, if you don't know, is huge."

The network includes volunteers, such as Danielle Gardner, Stacy Wice, Amy Warner, and Amanda Taylor.

"If we didn't have these volunteers, these animals would never get out of these cages," noted Wallace. "Our staff, they can't take care of this facility and exercise the animals. These guys are the critical network."

"We're so excited for the renovation," said Gardner, a trainer who offer free obedience classes. "It's going to help the dogs stay sane a little longer. They are going to be able to have a little more, hopefully, a bed, a Kuranda style bed, rather than the mats that they have in there."

Dogs will be housed in new, larger cages under the project that will allow staff to keep them in during cleaning and not having to chain them to a wall during the process.

"The cages we have here were state of the art in 1975," said Wallace. "This is the 21st Century. We don't do things that way."

The group of volunteers also discussed an expansion of runs inside the facility to allow for more exercise with the stray dogs in a more relaxed, controlled environment providing additional safety for the animals and volunteers.

"Right now, we walk strays on a leash out in the parking lot," said Gardner. "Every day for two hours these guys show up and walk dogs in the parking lot in circles for two hours."

Another big change as part of the project, being funded in part by an animal control millage passed by voters in November 2014, is keeping stray cats and dogs in a separate space from adoptable animals until they are tested for behavior and diseases.

All animals currently walk down the same corridors in the facility, which lends itself to a potentially easier spread of disease.

A new ventilation system will also be installed to cut down on the smell.

It's a constant struggle for space in the facility, Wallace said, pointing out they began December 2017 with around 120 dogs and ended the month with just under 100 canines following a free adoption month event during which 142 animals left with new owners.

"I've got a team of animal control officers that are getting dogs off the street. Animal Control's mission is public safety," Wallace said. "If we didn't do this, if we aren't doing this, you'd have gangs of roving dogs."

With changing aesthetics at the facility such as a cat porch in the front of the building and new dog cages, Wallace hoped more people will come in and adopt pets to forever homes in the local community.

"We're going to get one shot at this," he said. "We've got to do it right."

The incinerator at the facility is expected to come down in the next few weeks as well, with construction beginning in earnest by springtime.