West Memphis opens new animal shelter with casino support

• Early in 2024, Delaware North and Southland Casino Hotel vowed to contribute $1.7m to a new animal shelter in West Memphis
• The new animal shelter opened its doors recently and uses the site of the former Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Center and represents a $2.3m investment
• The improved facilities offer convenient conditions for dozens of cats and dogs awaiting adoption

A new animal shelter will offer better care and a safe place for animals awaiting to find a loving home in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Late last week, a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of the Carolyn and Ness Sechrest Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.

Carolyn and Ness Sechrest Animal Shelter and Adoption Center officially opens its doors

Back in January 2024, Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis, together with its parent company, Delaware North, vowed to donate $1.7m to the City of West Memphis for a new and larger shelter located on the grounds of the former Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Center.

The initiative represented a collaboration between Southland Casino Hotel, Delaware North and the Arkansas Greyhound Kennel Association, among other organizations.

The price tag of the project increased to a total of $2.3m, and the facility located at 1800 Southland Drive celebrated its grand opening last week.

Named after Carolyn and Ness Sechrest, the new animal shelter recognizes the pair who spent years of their lives advocating for a better home for animals in West Memphis.

Both Carolyn and Ness Sechrest attended the groundbreaking ceremony in 2024 but sadly have passed away since then.

"While they are no longer with us, their commitment lives on through this facility and every animal it serves," a press release by the City of West Memphis reveals.

Ultimately, the Carolyn and Ness Sechrest Animal Shelter and Adoption Center offers a larger facility for animals who are awaiting a family.

The shelter offers a space for 48 dogs and 40 cats, it has separate quarantine areas for ill animals and features extra room in case of emergencies where more animals need to be temporarily housed.

"Thank you to the Arkansas Greyhound Kennel Association, ETFC Architects, Carlos Chambers, West Memphis Utilities, City of West Memphis, Wagner Construction, Michael Rushing Construction, our community donors, Director Kerry Facello, and the countless volunteers for helping make this day possible," the City of Memphis’ press release further reads.

Notably, the city recognized Southland Casino Hotel and Delaware North for their generous $1.7m contribution that played a central role in the accomplishment of the project and the development of the new house shelter.

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