Humane Society of Marion County to expand with new surgical center and clinic

Kellsea Joles, a sterile technician, tends to a chihuahua mixed breed in the small dog post op recovery room after he was fixed at TLC Petsnip on Southeast 17th Street in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. The animal clinic performs sterilizations for $50 per animal. The Humane Society of Marion County and TLC Petsnip, Inc., are working together to help reduce or prevent the birth of unwanted pets. The Humane Society is subsidizing part of the cost of fixing animals at TLC Petsnip. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

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Posted October 15, 2021 | By James Blevins
james@ocalagazette.com

The Humane Society of Marion County (HSMC) will be expanding its current building at 701 N.W. 14^th Road with a 5,325-square-foot addition.

Eddie Leedy, executive director of the HSMC, said the expansion would be a surgical center and clinic for cats and dogs, and would offer low cost spaying and neutering for the community’s pets.

The expansion will help to free up space in the old clinic and shelter, said Leedy, essentially opening up six rooms.

“That would allow us to possibly house more cats in those areas,” he explained. “As far as dogs go, it would allow us to do more surgeries, but it would not increase the capacity. Currently, we’re really haven’t outgrown capacity.”

On Oct. 5, the Ocala City Council unanimously approved to waive the site plan review fee and related fees for the expansion, according to a council report.

The HSMC has submitted its first plans for the expansion and is currently waiting for a green light from the city to move forward on construction, said Leedy. They hope to break ground before the end of the year.

A nonprofit organization, the HSMC is dedicated to the care and protection of animals, according to its website. Its mission is to prevent cruelty, suffering and overpopulation of animals.

Through its shelter, the no-kill clinic and foster care facility houses many cats and dogs, employing an application process to screen any potential adopters.

Since the start of the pandemic, the shelter staff feared they would see an increase in the headcount of animals, according to Leedy, but the opposite happened.

“Instead of the shelter filling up full of unwanted pets, we were adopting everything out, which was kind of nice,” said Leedy. “Many people were working from home, so it was the perfect time for them to be able to bond with their pets.”

Leedy said the expansion is currently projected to cost around $1 million. One donor—to be named at a later date—has pledged to donate three quarters of the money towards the project.

“When we break ground, we will disclose the name of the donor,” added Leedy.

The nonprofit is fundraising for the additional fees through a campaign called “Raise the Woof.” Donors can purchase a brick and put their name or their pet’s name on it, explained Leedy. Donors can sponsor a room as well.

Engraved bricks are $150 apiece, according to the campaign mailer, and will be placed at the front entry. The cost for naming a room is $175.43 per square foot.

“We just had a gentleman come in today. He asked to sponsor the lobby,” Leedy said. “So when you go into the lobby, there’ll be a nameplate on the wall saying sponsored by and then their name.”

Leedy added that the donor of the large amount will receive a monument of some type out in front of the expanded clinic, showing his or her name in recognition of the generous support.

For questions about the new clinic, call the HSMC at (352) 873-7387 or email Eddie Leedy at eleedy@humanesocietyofmarioncounty.com. To view clinic floor plans, visit the HSMC website at www.TheHSMC.org.