PAULDING COUNTY, GA — Commissioners in a metro Atlanta county have greenlit a multi-million dollar proposal for a new animal shelter.

Paulding County commissioners are set to welcome a new animal shelter that Animal Control Facility Manager Aileen Culberson say is a long time coming.

Paulding County Property Manager Jeremiah Fields says the former Paulding County senior and community center on Industrial Way will be gutted to make way for the new animal shelter.

“The building now is around 6,000 square feet, so this one is going to over 18,000 square feet total. Huge capacity increase,” Fields said.

The new animal shelter will include additional kennels, bonding rooms, and medical spaces, according to Fields.

Construction work is set to take 12 months, officials add.