As construction of the County's new Animal Services Center on Eubanks Road steadily progresses, I am increasingly excited about the changes that await our department and the community. With the new facility becoming operational sometime in April, residents of Orange County will, for the first time, be able to visit one location for their Animal Control needs, lost pets, and animal adoptions.

I am extremely proud to be part of a collaboration to design, build and operate this state-of-the-art facility for cats, dogs and other animal companions. I am also certain that county residents will value the very special nature of this facility that their kindness and commitment to the welfare of animals has made possible.

Unlike more traditional shelters, ours will be light, airy and truly green, and there are new forms of animal containment such as real life rooms where adoptable animals can be spotlighted and shine. There is an attractive community room for events, and our numerous volunteers will find the functional spaces they need to enrich the experience of animals and reach out to find homes for homeless creatures.

In addition, the architecture mimics the rustic traditions of the Piedmont, making the center a true destination. And visitors will be greeted by "Sit" and "Stay," steel dog sculptures by Mike Roig, which could become the beginning of a sculptural menagerie or ongoing art series.

My own hope is that the community will embrace the county's new Animal Services Center to bring people together to rehome "surplus" animals and address the pressing problem of pet overpopulation. Surely, there has been no time in my own career when there has been a greater need for community collaboration and support given the dire condition of our economy and keen competition for scarce resources at all levels of government.

So please look forward to joining all of us at the new Animal Services Center sometime in April. I truly look forward to meeting you so that together we can celebrate this accomplishment for Orange County. And please know that, if you are so inclined, we'd be delighted to arrange a "greet and meet" for you with one (or more) of our very deserving pets.

Robert A. Marotto is Orange County's animal services director