b"realitysoundbites.Believe In A Better Tomorrow, TodayYears ago, around the time many of Floridas animal shelters were built, the buildings were designed with the idea that a highpercentage of dogs and cats taken in would be destroyed. The thinking was that the health and comfort of the animals was nota concern. Back then, efficiency was more important in shelter design than concern for the animals. As times have changed so hasthe publics perception. The following shelters are in varying stages of much-needed new shelter construction.Citrus CountyAfter more than three years of start-and-stop the shelters medical clinic will be expanded. Completion for thediscussions, Citrus County Commissioners voted 3-1 in favor new facilities is scheduled for June 2025.ofbuildinganewanimalshelterto One of the regions oldest and largest animal welfare agen-replacetheoldandoutdated cies serving Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and parts of Brevard,CitrusCountyAnimal Lake, and Volusia counties, Pet Alliance of Greater OrlandoServices. While the ground- began as the Orlando Humane Society in 1937. Emphasizingbreakinghasnotbeen animal welfare as the primary mission, the Orlando Humaneannounced,theshelterstaff Society merged with the Humane Society of Seminole Countyand volunteers continue to work in 2001 to become the SPCA of Central Florida. In 2014, themiracles in the current facility that is more SPCA of Central Florida underwent leadership changes withthan 40 years old. In 2023, they performed 1,901 spay and the hope of transforming the historic role of animal shelters inneuter surgeries and 105 specialty surgeries. There were 1,576 the region by working outside the walls of the facilities to engagepets adopted, 1,237 fostered, and 424 returned home. Staff the entire community with the responsibility of caring for ani-arranged for and transferred 164 animals to partner shelters. mals. With a new vision and mission, the SPCA of CentralCitrus County Commission Chairperson Ruthie Schlabach Florida also changed their name to reflect the new partnershiphas been advocating for a new shelter since she was elected in between the organization and the community, becoming Pet2020. She has repeatedly said conditions at the current facility Alliance of Greater Orlando in May, 2014. are cramped and unsafe for staff and animals. Anna Cooke, edi- Pet Alliance of Greater Orlandotor of The New Barker, has visited the shelter on several occa- 2800 County Home Road, Sanford, FL407.351.7722sions to research and write about its conditions. The shelter was www.petallianceorlando.org Ufeatured in a 2022 issue of The New Barker.Theworstoftheworstprisonershavebetterliving Pinellas CountyOn December 18, 2023, the much-neededarrangements than our staff's office space, Schlabach said dur- renovationprojectbeganonthePinellasCountyAnimaling a 2023 workshop. We should be ashamed as a county that Services shelter.Oncecomplet-wehaveallowedthis thatwehaveignoredourstaffand ed, the Penny for Pinellas-fundedignored our shelter. project will be a major upgradeCommissioner Holly Davis had this message for the shelter for the facility, with new kennelsstaff and volunteers: Thank you for persevering in the current in all of the dog housing areas,facility. Were going to get this done. fire sprinklers, and air condition-Citrus County Animal Services ing in all of their animal housing4030 S. Airport Rd., Inverness, FL352.746.8400 U areas. The buildings will also beenforced to withstand a category4 hurricane.Duringconstruction,whichisestimatedtotakeninemonths, the shelter will lose half of its animal housing capacity.Doug Brightwell, Director of Pinellas County Animal Services,Orange CountyThree years after a fire destroyed the shelter, is asking shelter and rescue partners for assistance.Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando is finally expected to break If you can assist us with pulling an extra dog or dogs eachground soon.Seventeen cats perished as a result of the fire. All month to keep our shelter population manageable it would beof the dogs were saved. greatly appreciated, said Brightwell.I truly appreciate all theFortunately for us, so many of our cats were in foster care workyoudoandtheassistanceyoualreadyprovidebythat it reduced the loss of life, said Steve Bardy, the shelters transferring dogs from us.But my staff and I will be grateful forexecutive director. anyextrahelpyoumaybeabletoprovideduringthisThe goal for the new $14 million shelter, built on a plot of renovation project.land on John Young Parkway, is not to be able to house more Adoption fees will be waived during construction.animals,buttogivethemabetterlifewhiletheyreinthe Pinellas County Animal Servicesshelter.Forexample,dogswillhaveairconditioning,and 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL727.582.2607U16THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com"