When a fire destroyed much of the Jacksonville Humane Society’s facilities and killed 86 dogs and cats in April 2007, supporters probably didn’t think it would take a decade to rebuild the Beach Boulevard shelter.
Yet a recession intervened and slowed the plans and fundraising efforts.
With a better economy the past five years, and a little more than $8 million raised of the $15 million needed, the society has been rebuilding. The money is being raised through the shelter’s Campaign for a Compassionate Community, which launched in 2015.
The major piece of the project — the Animal Resource Center and administrative building — should break ground in May and the entire campus should be completed in April or May 2017.
“It will be the 10-year anniversary, which was not planned but what a nice coincidence that turned out to be,” said Denise Deisler, executive director of the society.
“I don’t think anyone 10 years ago realized it would take 10 years,” she said.
The city is reviewing a permit application for Jacksonville-based Auld & White Constructors LLC to build the 43,260-square-foot, two-story structure at 8464 Beach Blvd. The architect is Bacon Group Architecture Inc. of Clearwater.
The construction project cost for the center is listed at $12.8 million. The total project budget is $15 million.
Plans show the first floor will contain the dog and cat adoption, holding, isolation and treatment center, all in a climate-controlled structure.
The floor also includes offices, laundry and other uses.
A partial second floor includes executive offices, an education center and the board room. The society built a 6,000-square-foot hospital, which opened in 2012, that will connect with the new building.
A small warehouse also is under construction. The thrift store next door was demolished and the site will be used for parking and temporary administrative offices.
Since the fire, the society has put together facilities as needed to accomplish its mission.
Modular space houses cats, puppies and small dogs, while larger dogs are kept in outdoor kennels, meaning they are subjected to the heat of the summer and cold of the winter.
Deisler said the fire destroyed the administrative, education, cat and puppy areas. All that remained were two sections of the outdoor dog runs that sheltered 100 dogs.
Temporary modular units were put in place to house the animals and some of the medical functions. An old house on the property was pressed into service for administrative offices and the old warehouse also was used.
“We’ve been in piecemeal different buildings since the fire in 2007,” Deisler said, adding she appreciates that everyone involved continued working and volunteering in “less than an ideal environment for animals and people.”
The first step in recovery was construction of the animal hospital, which was accomplished with funds that remained from donations after the fire.
“Once the economy started looking a little better in 2011 and 2012, we began the campaign to replace the entire shelter,” she said.
Deisler said the decision was made a year ago that the society couldn’t wait for the entire $15 million to be raised to start construction “because all of these little buildings were falling apart.”
The group issued a request for proposals for the architect and builder and began moving ahead while it continues its fundraising.
Deisler said $7 million remains to be raised.
When the major project is completed next year, the society will consider whether to rebuild a thrift store.
The Jacksonville Humane Society was established in 1885 as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was reorganized as the Humane Society in 1920 on 12 acres donated and granted in perpetuity solely for the welfare of animals. It remains on that site.
A 1993 addition increased capacity to about 400 animals. In October 2005, the society transitioned from an open-admission shelter to a limited-admission, no-kill center. It no longer euthanized an animal to make room for another.
In the 2007 fire, 19 dogs and 67 cats died. More than 80 pets were rescued as Jacksonville firefighters searched cage-by-cage through the burning structure. The cause of the fire was not determined.
Within a week, the society was able to accept animals again and within a few months, it was fully operational in temporary facilities.
The society’s daily capacity is 400 animals and it cares for about 5,500 a year. It rescues and transfers about half of them from facilities that euthanize animals and the other half from owners who cannot or choose not to care for them any longer.
It provides animal adoptions, spay/neuter services, an animal hospital, behavior and obedience training, special-needs treatment and other services.
It is funded by donations, bequests, service fees and grants. The society does not receive state or federal funds.
For updates on the building project or to donate, visit jaxhumane.org/about-us/building-updates.
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