Organizers preparing to build a new nonprofit animal shelter in Warren County say they’re nearing completion of the local government approvals needed to move forward with construction.

Wags & Whiskers, the nonprofit organization that hosts the Woofstock Festival for dogs every year, is expecting a final vote on a permit for the shelter from the Innsbrook Board of Trustees this month, said Tracy Sator, vice president of the nonprofit.

The shelter would be located on Highway M, just west of Highway F. The location is at the northern boundary of the rural village of Innsbrook, and a short drive away from Warrenton and Wright City. The placement will give the shelter plenty of room, while still being convenient to access from multiple areas, Sator said.

Innsbrook’s Village Board of Trustees will vote on whether to issue a permit for the animal shelter on Sept. 20, Sator said. That vote will be crucial, as Wags & Whiskers has made its purchase of the land for the shelter contingent on that approval. Sator said the nonprofit’s board of directors don’t want to get ahead of themselves, but are optimistic to receive approval and quickly proceed toward their goal.

“We feel good about it, but until it’s a done deal, we’re not getting ahead of it. The next step (after approval) is we close on the property,” Sator noted.

Even if and when the permit approval happens, a lot will still have to come together to make the shelter a reality. Wags & Whiskers will have to meet with a project manager to solidify the cost for a custom-built facility, and will almost immediately begin campaigning for additional funding for the project, Sator said.

She added that organizers have been heartened to already begin receiving pledges from local businesses for supplies or services to help build the shelter. Every contribution puts the nonprofit closer to realizing their dream of a high-quality animal shelter serving the entire region.

“We’ll have a lot of sponsorship opportunities. We’ll need flooring, drywall, doors, you name it. Everything for the interior build out,” Sator commented. “We know the community support is there. ... I think seeing the eventual groundbreaking is going to kick start this and let us move quickly on this build.”

The facility’s layout is planned to provide a relatively comfortable, safe and sanitary environment for up to 25 dogs and about 30 cats while they wait for adoption. Roomy kennels will be accompanied by indoor play areas, separate facilities for dogs and cats, isolation rooms for sick animals, and an outdoor play yard. Wags & Whiskers hopes to also have room for community education programs, Sator said.

The shelter will be staffed by a full-time manager and a team of volunteers.

As plans progress, there will be a continuing need for people to get involved and show their support for the project. To learn more about Wags & Whiskers or get in touch, go to the organization’s website, www.wags-whiskers.org.