SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County’s animal shelter currently operates at 130% capacity on average.
Our News 6 team toured the facility Wednesday where there’s not a single open run.
“We’re totally at capacity in here,” said Division Manager Chris Stronko.
It’s a problem shelters across Central Florida have been facing post pandemic, and as families struggle with the cost of living.
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Stronko said there are almost 230 dogs and cats living at the facility right now.
“That’s today. And that’s every day,” he said.
But overcrowding isn’t the only issue the shelter faces. Overuse is part of the reason why there is a list of improvements that need to be made.
Emergency Manager Alan Harris, who oversees Seminole County Animal Services, told commissioners this week about needed renovations to surgical suites, kennel gates and doors that aren’t functioning well, painting needs, and overall upgrades to the adoption and administration building.
The shelter has also been running a generator and portable air conditioning units to keep animals and staff comfortable in the kennels.
“It is extremely hot in the state of Florida. I think it’s getting hotter and hotter. We’ve had more heat advisories this year than I remember us having in long time,” Harris said. “Can you imagine the heat inside of the shelter?”
Harris told News 6 the temporary air conditioner costs almost $200,000 a year to run. He said everything else is getting more costly, too, including dog food and medical supplies.
“It costs more for everything that we do at the shelter,” said Harris. “It costs more, just like it costs us more going to the grocery store.”
County Manager Darren Gray told the Board of County Commissioners that animal services is part of the county’s public safety program and will be something that they focus on a lot over the next year.
After listening to some of the needs, Chairman Jay Zembower said it sounded like some items may be more immediate.
“You all are doing tremendous work obviously with very little,” Zembower said, praising the animal services staff. “I think what you’re hearing from this Board is it is important to us that these things be funded, and properly funded.”
Harris told News 6 they will now be developing a capital improvement master plan, which will prioritize projects over the next three to five years.
“We’ve done little things over time, but we’ve been very, very conservative over the last six or seven years,” said Harris. “So, with this millage increase we’ll be able to start tackling some of those things.”
The last time there was a major renovation to the building was after a fire in 2007. Harris said the building is falling apart in some locations and bigger problems like the air conditioning and electrical will take longer to address. Smaller items, such as fences, gates, and doors, should be done faster.
“We had some really great response from the commissioners, but what I was real excited about was some of the calls that I received afterwards from animal advocates that were super happy,” said Harris. “Some of those were our volunteers. So, they live this every day and they see the doors rusting. They see the the deterioration. And they were super excited to see this positive change for the animals.”
Commissioners said they don’t want to kick the can down the road on renovations any longer.
“Don’t wait to tell us,” said Commissioner Amy Lockhart. “The three-to-five-year plan is great, but we have deferred maintenance for your operation and others in this community for many, many years — and partially because we have been such an incredibly conservative board. We have said year after year, unless it is absolutely necessary for the operation of the primary function of local government, we’re not spending it, and that’s where we are right now with the place of needing. We’re beyond the tipping point for your organization, for sure.”
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