Rescue reveals first cottages

LAKEWOOD RANCH — You’ve never seen an animal rescue like this.

Honor Animal Rescue’s new home, called the Ranch, features four cottage-style buildings similar to those used following Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The buildings create a courtyard, and in the middle stands a pond-less water feature complete with a fire hydrant.

There’s nary a chain-link fence in sight. And that’s just how President Rob Oglesby likes it.

“It’s a complete different environment for animal rescue,” Oglesby said of the Ranch, which sits on a 7.68-parcel at 4951 Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch. “They’re meant to resemble a Key West village.”

The village is the culmination of months of planning for the 4-year-old East County-based organization. When complete, it will allow the rescue to streamline its operations. Currently, the rescue houses its animals in existing structures on the Ranch property as well as at Nate’s Place off Cooper Creek Boulevard. Eventually, the rescue will transfer all animals to the Ranch.

Oglesby said the Ranch’s environment not only will be healthier and happier for its furry friends but also it will provide a more comfortable environment for families looking to adopt. Furthermore, he said the Ranch gives donors the satisfaction of seeing their dollars at work.

“Each of these costs $15,000,” he said of the cottages. “It takes an average of 21 days to adopt a dog, and each of these can hold six dogs at a time. That means for $15,000, we can help rescue 140 dogs in one year per cottage.”

And in the current economic conditions, Oglesby said the rescue needs that kind of productivity from every dollar it receives.

“Two years ago, we rescued 300 animals,” he said. “Last year, that jumped to 550.”

Honor Animal Rescue also has partnered with Petco and showcases animals at the store’s East County location, 131 N. Cattlemen Road.

The Rescue will be the beneficiary of Lakewood Ranch’s Music on Main concert from 6-9 p.m. this Friday.

For more, visit www.honoranimalrescue.org.

Contact Michael Eng at [email protected].