GCAO had a transformative 2025

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Animal Outreach achieved several goals in 2025, including groundbreaking on a new facility, nearly 300 adoptions and successes in community outreach. Challenges presented themselves in the form of the agency’s current outdated facility and animal hoarding. 

“The best way I could describe the shelter would have to be just simply the word ‘growth,’” GCAO Assistant Manager Serena Jewell said. “We saw a lot of growth with the shelter, our policies, network partners, but we also saw a lot of growth in the community. We had a lot more people wanting to come out, wanting to volunteer. It has been phenomenal.”  

Groundbreaking 

GCAO accomplished a significant milestone in 2025 with the groundbreaking of a new shelter. The $2.5 million facility, which is anticipated to enhance the operations of the organization, marks a pivotal moment in its efforts to provide better care for animals and support for the community. GCAO Board President Sara Thompson Tweedy expressed her pride in the achievement. 

“The groundbreaking on the animal shelter, hands down, is the biggest accomplishment of the year because that's going to make the most difference for the employees and the staff who work at GCAO, as well as the animals that we shelter there,” she said.  

The new building promises a variety of key features, including dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces, isolation kennels and areas specifically designed for cats. These should streamline daily tasks for staff, allowing them to focus more on care and enrichment activities for the animals.  

“Being in a facility where they can accomplish their tasks much quicker will allow them to focus on things like preparing animals for their forever home, teaching them to sit, teaching them to stay, getting them some play time, getting them socialized,” said Thompson Tweedy. 

The construction of the new site will begin soon, with an expected completion timeline of eight to ten months. An official groundbreaking was held Nov. 17, 2025. 

“We're hoping to move dirt very soon," she said.  

Adoptions and transfers 

In terms of animal adoptions and transfers, 2025 brought some challenges and successes for GCAO. The organization reported assisting a total of 592 animals, comprised of 164 cats and 428 dogs. This year, 120 cats and 152 dogs found forever homes, which was lower than anticipated, but staff also ramped up transfers. The organization coordinated the transfer of 211 dogs and 30 cats to partnering rescue organizations, alleviating pressure from the shelter. 

Jewell said the transfers were important in helping animals find homes.  

“Even though the adoption numbers are not crazy high, it's the transfers that really help those animals get to another facility that has more resources, so they have a better chance,” she said.  

GCAO collaborates with organizations like Spokane Humane Society and Life Advocates for Pets in Grant County, ensuring all transfers are to no-kill facilities, thus maintaining the agency’s no-kill practices. 

Jewell said the most exciting adoption for her this year was Sammy. Sammy came to GCAO in 2021 and was the shelter's longest-serving resident. However, this year, he found his forever home.  

“She saw the article, she saw his pictures, she didn’t believe me when I told her he was round,” Jewell said. “Well, she came in, met Mr. Sammy, and fell in love. She has been doing fantastic with him. He has even lost close to 20 pounds.” 

She said that while Sammy was living in the shelter, he was very selective about the dogs he wanted to be around.  

“Now, on Mondays, I meet with Sammy and my dog and they play together. He is going to the dog park and having a blast. He is living the high life. She takes him everywhere. She loves him,” Jewell said.  

Food distribution 

In an initiative aimed at supporting pet owners in need, GCAO distributed more than 2,000 pounds of free pet food to community members in 2025. The program stemmed from the organization’s desire to keep animals in their homes, especially families facing economic hardships, Jewell said.  

“What the staff are trying to do is to keep pets with their families and make it affordable for those families,” Thompson Tweedy said.  

The program not only provided immediate relief but also fostered community engagement by encouraging local residents to seek help rather than surrendering pets. The food distribution effort has had a significant impact on the community, as many pet owners expressed gratitude for the support, Jewell said.  

Animals seized 

In November, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office partnered with GCAO to rescue 24 dogs that had accumulated on a resident's property in rural Grant County. Jewell said the first batch was 21 dogs. GCSO then went back out and picked up three more. Five of the dogs were grown and the other 19 were puppies.  

“Pulling together with the sheriff’s office, we were able to get everything worked out,” Jewell said. “It was a huge struggle for the staff, because there were 19 puppies that should be with Mom. That’s a lot of bottles. That’s a lot of puppy formula.”  

Jewell said of the 19 puppies, GCAO has two left in their care. 

“We still have two; they are the runts, so they need more TLC,” she said.  

The rest, with partnerships with Life Advocates for Pets of Grant County and Animal Rescue Friends Society of Grant County, have found permanent homes, she said.  

Acknowledgements 

Thompson Tweedy acknowledged several individuals for helping make 2025 successful. She said without the community, GCAO board, volunteers, adopters and GCAO, the city of Moses Lake and Grant County staff, the shelter’s achievements this year would not be possible.  

“To my fellow board members who are also working very hard behind the scenes as well: Thank you. Every single member of the board is doing stuff behind the scenes to try to do the best that they can for the animals and the staff. So personally, for me, I'd like them to be recognized. They're volunteering their time and effort, and it's a lot. To the staff, other volunteers and our supporters, another huge thank you. GCAO was really hurting a few years back, and people have really stepped up to try to make a difference in this situation, and I'm very appreciative.” 

Thompson Tweedy said the shelter is “1,000%” in a better place than they were a couple of years ago.  

Ways to help  

As GCAO sets its sights on 2026, assistance from the community remains crucial. Both monetary donations and tangible items such as food, toys, blankets, and cleaning supplies are needed to sustain their operations.  

“Cash donations, or monetary donations, are always best,” Thompson Tweedy said. “That, or give us a call or stop by to see what our needs are.”  

Thompson Tweedy said they are currently looking to fill a handful of seats on the GCAO board. For those interested, she asks them to reach out to the shelter to learn more.  

For those interested in volunteering, GCAO invites area residents to reach out via email or visit the shelter to sign a liability waiver. Jewell said volunteers are vital in the shelter’s daily operation. 

“Volunteers help the rest of the community put shelter life in perspective for the everyday person,” Jewell said. “They also make our jobs a lot easier; an extra set of hands makes all the difference.”  

She added, “The volunteers are kind of the ones who are our frontline people.” 

Grant County Animal Outreach
grantcountyanimaloutreach.org
6725 Randolph Rd NE
Moses Lake, WA 98837
509-762-9616

    Grant County Animal Outreach Board President Sara Thompson Tweedy speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony. She said without the support of the community and staff at GCAO, City of Moses Lake and Grant County the new building wouldn’t have been possible.
  

    Grant County Animal Outreach Assistant Manager Serena Jewell deals with a bit of sass from Sammy. Sammy was GCAO's longest resident, but he has now found his forever home.
  

    Grant County Animal Outreach Manager Cyndle Miller pets Zeus, one of the dogs in the care of the shelter. According to staff, Zeus has come a long way from initially arriving at the shelter in Nov. 2022. Instead of an angry, non-trusting pooch, he is friendly and loves bonding with children.
  

    Poppy, a Belgian Malinois mix is still looking for her permanent home. She has been a resident at GCAO since 2023. According to staff, she is very smart, energetic and likes to be kept busy.