'Animal Services is a vital part of the community'
ABOVE VIDEO:Shows the results of the renovation to the South Animal Care & Adoption Facility in Melbourne, Florida. Interviews, pictures and before/after results. (Video by Zach Clark, SpaceCoastDaily.com)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The unveiling of the new and improved South Animal Care and Adoption Facility took place Sunday to much excitement.
The Sheriff’s Office teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to give the facility some much needed improvements.
Nearly $50,000, privately funded, was committed to the renovation but the most compelling story is the community sponsorship and volunteers that donated their time to help with the makeover.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey and the rest of the staff gathered Saturday morning to start a 2-day makeover of the facility with an ABC “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” type feel to it.
Approximately 150 volunteers participated in the major construction project that included painting, landscaping, the development of 23 outdoor exercise areas for dogs, free roam cat rooms for cats, and the development of two outdoor structures that serve to create a more positive environment for our pets and future owners.
Wayne Ivey
“During the past 32 hours we did a complete makeover for this building,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
“Everything from painting to organizing and power washing, to creating two outdoor structures for people to have some time with their pets.”
The Sheriff recognized how much community volunteers and sponsorships mean to him and the project.
“One hundred fifty people took Saturday and Sunday out of their lives, everybody is busy and everyone has something going on but they took these two days to change the lives of these animals. Animal Services is a vital part of the community. It is truly about the health and well-being of our community.”
The majority of the costs for this project were funded through the very gracious donations of Brevard County citizens and business leaders to the “Sheriff’s Pet Posse.”
Brevard County District 2 Commissioner, Jim Barfield, was on hand for the unveiling and admired the teamwork that helped make it possible.
Jim Barfield
“It’s great, it shows what can happen when you bring the community together and make things happen,” said District 2 County Commissioner Jim Barfield.
“I like the dog runs in the back, its amazing. It’s what keeps dogs energized and healthy and people want to see them.”
Volunteers from across Brevard County, along with the employees of East Coast Construction Inc. and East Coast Fence, worked on various construction projects including painting, landscaping, building of outdoor exercise areas, interior improvements, and the construction of an outdoor quiet area for pet owners who are having to part with their pets because of illness or quality of life issue.
J. Brewer, Director of Development for Habitat for Humanity, reflected on the partnership with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
J. Brewer
“Habitat for Humanity partnering with the Sheriff’s Department, working together, is resulting in something that is going to be beneficial for the community but especially for the animals on a individual basis,” said Director of Development for Habitat for Humanity John W. (J.) Brewer.
“There are a lot of good things that came out of this.”
“The inside of this facility is just as beautiful on the outside as well. It’s beautiful.”
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has made it a focal point to make sure animals of Brevard County get treated the right way given the circumstances.
ABOVE VIDEO:Saturday, before the renovation took place. (Video by Zach Clark, SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Joe Hellebrand
“I also want to commend our Project Managers, Joe Hellebrand and Kurt Kolczynski for their dedication and commitment to this project. Without their vision this project would not have been possible,” said Sheriff Ivey.
Our team had a great time doing this much needed project and in the coming days will be posting a great video that not only captures the true essence of the Extreme Animal Care Center Makeover but shares with our community the value of the project and the value of working together for a common cause.”
