WATCH: Groundbreaking Ceremony for New BCSO Animal Surgery Center at the Animal Care Center in Melbourne
By Space Coast Daily // September 2, 2023
Message from Sheriff Wayne Ivey
ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey speaks on the New BCSO Animal Surgery Center at the Animal Care Center in Melbourne
ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office host Groundbreaking Ceremony for New BCSO Animal Surgery Center at the Animal Care Center in Melbourne.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On Friday, our agency held a groundbreaking ceremony for our latest advancement in the health and well-being of homeless pets in our community.
The “K-9 Junny Animal Surgery Center” once completed, will house the latest in surgery and medical technology for dogs and cats that are in our care at the Animal Care Center.
Currently our veterinary staff conduct thousands and thousands of surgeries each year in a small surgery room that is less than 500 square feet. The new facility not only significantly expands our surgery area but also brings in the latest in technology including radiology, ultrasound, and lab facilities.
Named after our beloved “K-9 Junny,” the surgery center will forever tell the story of Junny Rios-Martinez who in 1991 at the age of 11 years old was abducted and murdered in our community and “K-9 Junny” who was named in honor of him and who has quickly become our agency mascot and ambassador for the safety of pets throughout our community!!
The “K-9 Junny Animal Surgery Center” was designed by Dr. Sarah Boyd our Director of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Services Director Joe Hellebrand, our Veterinary team, Erik Costin of W&J Construction, and Travis Kerr of J. Travis Kerr Architecture.
In addition, this new facility would not be possible without the funding assistance of our Brevard County Commission and Commissioner John Tobia who championed the funding effort, our Sheriff’s Pet Posse, and a gift from a gracious donor who at her passing wanted to help homeless pets in our community!!
While we are just now entering the early stages of the project’s construction, I am truly excited for our veterinary staff and the thousands of homeless pets who will forever be impacted by this new facility and resource!!
And yes, the construction team made certain that Junny had his own shovel for the event so that my wife Susan Ann could help him be a part of the groundbreaking effort!!
– Sheriff Wayne Ivey
