Growth prompts plans to expand

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Although the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch is still a young organization, its leaders already have big dreams for its future.

The organization is working toward its goal of building a new shelter that will accommodate at least 100 dogs and cats.

The project still is in the design phase, and leaders are looking for property in Lakewood Ranch on which to build the facility. But already, they are working to secure funding for the facility, which they hope to break ground on in December. In total, project costs are estimated at about $850,000.

“The type of building we are looking at is modular,” Humane Society Co-president Debbie Rubin said. “It can actually be erected in a couple of weeks.”

Once complete, the new facility would have a reception area, spay/neuter clinic and enough land for the dogs to exercise freely.

“We’d love to have more of a training facility,” Rubin said.

To raise funds, the society is selling raffle tickets at $40 apiece for $60,000 in prizes such as a family photo shoot, home pressure washing, gift certificates and more. Two grand prizes include a weeklong trip to Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, and a week in Mexico.

Raffle tickets can be purchased online at www.hslwr.org or at various locations throughout the East County, including The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch, University Chiropractic Center, Woof Gang Bakery, the University Parkway Lakewood Ranch Information Center, Jules Touch Salon, Milonga Argentine Steakhouse, Joshua Colkmire DDS Family Dental Care and more.

Winners will be selected at the Humane Society’s Hounds and Gowns Gala March 31, at the Grande Clubhouse at The Lake Club.

“We are a grassroots organization; we have no major donors,” Society co-president Susan Giroux said. “Our focus is really to build a shelter from the bottom up, so everyone feels like it’s there shelter. It’s very needed.
“What really got us going was that we don’t have enough space to take on animals that have been relinquished and all the animals at Manatee County Animal Services,” she said. “Now that it’s no-kill (in Manatee County), they have a lot of animals that still need placing.”

The society currently uses donated space inside Stanley Steemer’s Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park building. Rubin said she is grateful for the space, but hopes to be able to save more dogs and cats in the near future, as the location only can hold about five dogs. Last month, about 20 animals were adopted out of the facility.

For more information about the raffle, visit www.hslwr.com.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].