BRADENTON, Fla. — The Humane Society of Manatee County is set for a major expansion to enhance its facilities, including a new state-of-the-art adoption center and increased space for cats. The organization's 2.5-acre campus will see its aging adoption center replaced with a facility nearly double its current size, as Executive Director Rick Yocum expressed excitement over the transformation.
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Currently, the shelter and adoption center spans about 6,700 square feet, but the new building will approximately cover 11,800 square feet. This upgrade aims to improve animal care, medical intake, behavior programs, and overall shelter operations. The new animal housing areas will be storm-resilient, equipped with an emergency generator to ensure the animals remain safe during hurricanes.
The project will be carried out in phases, starting with a vacant building on the north end of the campus, which will be transformed into a new cat facility. This will replace the existing 1,200-square-foot cat cottage with about 3,000 square feet of dedicated space. Yocum indicated that renovations are expected to commence in November and complete by May or June of next year. After relocating the cats, the current shelter, built in 1947, will be demolished.
Construction of the new adoption center is projected to take 12 to 14 months. Jessica Weiss, Event and Volunteer Manager, noted that the increased space will allow for expanded programs and educational opportunities for both animals and volunteers. The focus on designing the facility has prioritized the animals' wellbeing, incorporating insights from staff and volunteers.
In the new design, dog kennels will feature air-conditioned indoor areas and covered outdoor spaces, organized into six separate kennel pods for fewer animals in each pod. Additionally, there will be three larger outdoor turf yards, with one potentially including a splash pad or shallow pool for the dogs.
The expansion was made possible in part by a significant donation from a past adopter, which allowed the organization to kickstart the project sooner than expected. Despite this support, Yocum mentioned that community contributions will still be necessary for furnishing and equipping the new facilities.
The ultimate goal, according to Yocum, is to improve the overall shelter experience for animals until they are adopted.