City of Staunton

Oct. 2, 2025 – Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro invite the community to celebrate the opening of the new Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter (SAWAS) facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 4 p.m. at 1011 Lee Highway in Verona. Following the ceremony, guests are welcome to tour the new building until 6 p.m. 

The ribbon cutting will celebrate the completion of the building ahead of its full opening. During this transitional period, the shelter team will be preparing the facility for operations at its new location at Verona.  

The new facility—located in the former Verona Elementary School—will replace the current Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center in Lyndhurst. A new name for the shelter, Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter (SAWAS), comes with the move and more accurately reflects the communities served and the mission in its simplest form – to provide Staunton, Augusta, and Waynesboro residents a safe place for stray and unwanted animals. The new facility reflects a shared commitment by the three localities to invest in modern, improved animal welfare services.  

Key features of the new shelter include the following: 

• The new facility will provide approximately 39,000 square feet of enhanced space compared to the current 5,000-square-foot facility, creating increased operational room for staff, programs, and animals. 
• A convenient new location in Verona. 
• Enhanced capacity and modern amenities for animal care. 

The ribbon cutting and tours are free and open to the public. Community members are encouraged to attend and see firsthand how the new facility will serve local animals and residents for years to come. 

Event Details: 
What: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter (SAWAS) 
When: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Ceremony at 4 p.m.; tours until 6 p.m. 
Where: 1011 Lee Highway, Verona, VA 

About the Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter 

SAWAS is the open-admission, municipal animal shelter for Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro. The shelter takes in stray, abandoned, and owner-surrendered animals from these localities and works to improve the lives of both people and pets in the community through adoptions. Since its opening in 2011, the shelter has successfully lowered local euthanasia rates and expanded services, including pet food assistance and responsible pet re-homing programs. 

For more information about SAWAS, visit https://svasc.net/.