City of El Paso opens renovated Westside Animal Adoption Center

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The City of El Paso on Saturday celebrated the grand opening of its new Animal Services Westside Adoption Center, a project city leaders say will improve pet adoptions and keep more animals healthy and in permanent homes.

The $8.9 million renovation transformed the former Moorhead Middle School on Confetti Drive into a state-of-the-art adoption center designed to reduce overcrowding, improve animal care and make adoptions more accessible to families on the West Side.

District 8 City Representative Chris Canales, who also chairs the city’s Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, said the project is personal.

“For me, this was more than the average city project,” Canales said. “As a foster and volunteer, this is really a passion project — and it gives West El Paso families a whole new level of access to adoption.”

The center features expanded kennels, walking trails for volunteers, and indoor meet-and-greet rooms where potential adopters can spend time with animals in a calmer setting.

“By showcasing better, animals connect more easily with adopters — and that helps get them into their forever homes,” said Michael Wachsmann, interim director of El Paso Animal Services. “This building has been renovated to new animal welfare standards, with more space and a quieter environment.”

The El Paso Community Foundation also marked the occasion with a pet food giveaway. The foundation runs the Borderland Rescue Fund, which stocks free pet food pantries at all 14 public library branches across the city.

“We don’t want anyone to have to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their animals,” said Tess Passaro, a program officer with the foundation. “These pantries make sure pets stay happy, healthy and at home — and out of shelters.”

Animal Services and its partners are also urging residents to practice responsible pet ownership by spaying and neutering, microchipping, and adopting from shelters or rescues rather than from backyard breeders.

The Westside Adoption Center is located at 5625 Confetti Drive and is now open to the public.

You sign up to foster or volunteer on elpasoanimalservices.org.

Volunteers can help walk dogs along new trails at the Westside center, assist with meet-and-greets, or support adoption events.

The shelter also offers “day pass” opportunities, allowing residents to spend a day with a shelter pet to give them exercise and socialization.