Humane Society To Move Into Bigger Digs | TheLedger.com

Above, Sonia Archo, a volunteer, dries a newcomer named Tiki following a bath at the Humane Society of Polk County in Winter Haven on Thursday. Below, Diann Andress, an animal trainer, walks Jager along a row of filled dog kennels.

PAUL CRATE / NEWS CHIEF PHOTO

Published: Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 12:06 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 12:06 a.m.

WINTER HAVEN ? It's hard to show your best side when you live in cramped quarters, especially to potential family.

So the dogs and cats residing at the Humane Society of Polk County would express their appreciation if they could at the prospects of heading to a much-improved home very soon.

Humane Society recently purchased an 11,000-square-foot facility on Dundee Road, which will more than quadruple its current size, allowing the group to take in more animals and increase services.

"We'll be able to house more animals, and hopefully we'll be able to do some fundraising here instead of renting out places to do our big events," said Lisa Baker, the executive director of the Humane Society of Polk County. "And we'll be able to do dog training inside rather than out in the elements. It's going to be such a huge blessing. We're very excited."

The 4.7-acre property at 3195 Dundee Road, just a short drive from the current facility, is almost the same size as another property the Humane Society purchased on County Road 544, but it already has a building on site, which will save the society thousands of dollars.

In addition, its location on the heavily trafficked Dundee Road improves visibility for the public.

"The property on (CR) 544 was such a big leap. Now people will be able to see the building, to see the layout, to see the location," said Suzie Moraco, president of the Humane Society's board of directors. "I think it's going to get people excited."

The Humane Society has been looking for a new home since the hurricanes in 2004 destroyed its old facility. When the economy went south, it became difficult to raise money to build on the property on CR 544.

So when Baker saw the warehouse on Dundee Road for sale, she was ecstatic.

"It was just a miracle that this warehouse outlet became available for sale for us," she said.

The Humane Society is Polk County's only no-kill animal shelter. Unlike the pound or the SPCA, they don't euthanize animals to make space, Baker said.

"When we take an animal in we make a commitment to that animal to not put it to sleep and to get it home," she said.

Because of this policy, space at the Humane Society is at a premium, making the new location even more important.

In the current location, the society usually has about 25 cats and 25 dogs in residence at any time. More space will increase the number of animals it can accept.

"It allows us to expand the services but do them in a different way," Moraco said. "It will make the animals happier, and it will make them more adoptable."

It's unclear when renovations to the warehouse will begin, but Baker and Moraco are excited to plan the design of their new "state-of-the-art facility," Moraco said.

They will be able to show donors exactly where the dogs and cats will be held, and how much room they'll have, Moraco said.

And with the new location only about a quarter-mile from Veterinary Healthcare Associates, a general veterinary and emergency facility, Baker expects their relationship with the animal health center to grow, further improving the Humane Society's health services.

Source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20130310/NEWSCHIEF/130319998

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