SENECA — Four years of organizing, fundraising and planning came to fruition Saturday morning as officials cut the ribbon on the new Oconee County Animal Shelter in Seneca.

Several dignitaries were on hand at the facility at 1925 Sandifer Blvd. for the ceremony.

“It’s something we worked on for a very long time,” said Jean Stappler, Oconee County Humane Society president. “I think we would still be working on it if it had not been for Sam Thrift. When Sam put that building up four years ago, it ignited interest, and it grew until the county and the Humane Society could work together. We hope this will be a long and happy relationship.”

Thrift raised the original building on the site and also donated all the grading work for the new facility.

“I think this is a prime example of the county, private enterprise and people in the community working together as a team,” said Oconee County Council Chairman Marion Lyles. “This will serve our community needs for years to come, and it’s well supported by the county.”

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has been responsible for animal control for the last four years. Six officers respond to and investigate cases involving animals in the county. The main goals in building the shelter were not only to improve the working conditions for those officers, but also to enhance public perception of animal control and increase the number of adoptions at the shelter.

“About four years ago, we started to lobby for a new facility and (to) get it into a location where it would be accessible to the public, where we could get more animals adopted and fewer animals put to sleep,” Sheriff James Singleton said. “It’s been a long time coming, but through the Humane Society, my office and the County Council, we were able to pull this together. It’s a good location, it’s a good building, and it’s more accessible to the public. So I think it’s a bright future for the animal shelter. It’s good for my employees that work in it. The conditions that they were working in compared to what they will have here, I think it’s a big improvement and a wonderful thing.”

The new facility is twice the size of the former shelter along Camp Road in Westminster. It will be easier to clean and offer more room for the animals housed there, said Jerry Zimmerman, shelter manager. New programs are being planned at the new shelter to educate the public about spaying and neutering and general care of animals.

Animals will be moved in to the new shelter within the coming month, officials said.