As visitors walked into the ASTRO Foundation facility on South Stearns Road in Oakdale earlier this month, it was a celebration, with the grand re-opening hosted on Dec. 7. ASTRO is technically known as the Animal Shelter To Riverbank and Oakdale, but is more commonly called by its acronym.

The hallways were filled with people there looking for new furry friends and taking in the recent renovations. The Welcome Room featured a new window which brightened up the room and made the Welcome Room feel very welcoming indeed. Outside, the new kennels have been installed and there is a grassy area for dogs to run and play.

The re-opening came after several months of renovations to the site, necessitated when a car crashed through the front of the building, causing extensive property damage.

“It was tough when the accident occurred because there was already so much to do and that added to our list but we got through it with the help of our staff, volunteers and donors,” said Jaydeen Vicente, ASTRO Foundation Founder and President.

Though they have been hard at work updating and renovating, there are still many projects that are in the works including the spay and neuter clinic.

Megan Scoullar, Director of Adoption Services at ASTRO noted, “We have worked to prepare for the spay and neuter clinics and are almost ready to open them up so we’re happy about that as it has been an ongoing project since we moved into our new space.”

In between giving tours and greeting guests, Scoullar managed to enjoy some play time in the new outdoor space with one of their adorable dogs Derby, who relished the game of fetch and is available for adoption.

There are both dogs and cats available for adoption through ASTRO, which serves the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas.

For more information, visit: astrofoundation.org