ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The St. Louis County Department of Public Health will be managing the Olivette animal shelter come 2025. With more 6,600 pets adopted last year from the Animal Protective Association (APA) Adoption Center in the St. Louis area, 2025 is going to look a little different as St. Louis County takes over the Olivette animal shelter.
While dogs and cats are getting trained to find their forever home, the county is helping train even children to be better owners.
In 2022, the APA took over the Olivette shelter following reports of poor conditions.
Now the shelter is going back into the hands of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health.
There are more than 130 animals at the Olivette location at 10521 Baur Blvd., including dogs, cats and other more exotic pets that get surrendered.
They will be under new management as early as February next year Director of Public Health for St. Louis County Dr. Kanika Cunningham said.
"(We're) creating an atmosphere or shelter that recognizes the intersection of public health and animal welfare," Cunningham said. "With that in mind we were able to really partner and learn from each other. ...I think we're at a great point where we're comfortable and confident at resuming operations and maybe supporting APA with being able to expand what they're doing when it comes to pet adoptions."
It's a six-month transition, with the hopes it will allow APA to focus on its long-term goals.
Since December 2022, the APA and DPH have helped with nearly 4,000 adoptions at the Olivette shelter.
They're hoping to add at least one more.
A major goal of 2025 is more pet adoptions, Cunningham said. She hopes to empower more people to be informed owners.
The county is also planning to ramp up education programs in schools so students and parents can learn how to feed a pet the right things and right amount, which Cunningham said is knowledge that's not always a given.
Cunningham emphasized they see the greatest number of strays and surrendered animals from north St. Louis County.
"(In) north county, there are definitely veterinary deserts," Cunningham said. "One thing I'm really talking about is that you don't find too many dog parks in north county. That's another thing that other community partners can create space for us to have a safe spot for our animals to play and run."
If you're interested in adopting a new pet or volunteering, you can click here.