SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – As Seminole County Animal Services continues to renovate parts of its shelter, workers have created a new approach to finding animals a forever home.
The shelter announced Wednesday in a news release that work was underway in its Adoption and Veterinarian care wings, “forcing staff to get creative to continue operations as efficiently as possible.”
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These wings are home to the veterinary surgical suite, animal care offices and 80 dog kennel runs, which typically house the adoptable dogs, a statement shows.
“We’re getting new doors, they’re redoing the floors and the walls, so it’s safer and cleaner for us and the animals to live on,” Seminole County Animal Services Adoption Coordinator Bree Burkett said.
Due to these renovations, the facility isn’t able to use half of its kennels.
“Oh, it’s organized chaos pretty much,” Burkett said. “We’re having to make do with what we have.”
As a result, Burkett said she and her team are using disaster response trailers to house all adoptable dogs and two mobile veterinary clinics on loan from Pet Alliance to handle veterinary practice.
“We are grateful for all of the outsources that we’ve had to do with the trailers,” Burkett said. “Pet Alliance lets us use their mobile spay and neuter trailer so we can continue to do surgeries and get dogs out and adopted.”
The shelter also mentioned its ongoing “Clear the Shelter” adoption special, offering $10 adoptions of animals six months of age or older for a limited time.
“I love it,” Burkett said. “Bringing the animals up and not only seeing the happy faces on the animals, but on the new... owners, it’s rewarding.”
Out of 180 animals currently in residence at the shelter — including 38 dogs recently seized in an animal cruelty investigation — the news release described 24 dogs, eight cats, three rabbits and a pig that are currently up for adoption.
According to the shelter, the renovation is expected to cost $276,000 and take six to eight weeks to complete.
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