The Vincennes Animal Shelter officially celebrated its newly completed expansion with a ribbon cutting on Friday, though the new space has already been in use for several weeks.

Director Leah Reagan says the addition was made possible after ten years of saving and fundraising. It includes a larger exam room, a meet-and-greet area, an all-purpose room, and expanded office space.

Reagan says the biggest improvement is the new exam room, which now has running water, outdoor access, and enough space to examine multiple animals at once—something the old room couldn’t accommodate.

The meet-and-greet room gives potential adopters a quiet, indoor space to spend time with animals, especially when the weather isn’t ideal.

Reagan says they had wanted to expand for years but weren’t sure it was financially possible. With continued support from the community, she says they were finally able to move forward.

The shelter encourages the public to keep supporting its mission through donations, volunteering, or simply visiting and spending time with the animals.