b'The Community ThatThought It Could,Proved It Could.Photographs and Text by Anna CookeThe underlying theme in the classic tale, WeareseeingaproliferationofTheLittleEngine ThatCould,by Arnold community-basedanimalhospitalscon-Monk, is always the same. A little engine nected with animal welfare organizationsovercomesaseeminglyinsurmountable across the country. Communities all overtask, while repeating the mantra I think I are voluntarily funding these new facilitiescan, I think I can. becausetheyhaverealizedthatgovern-TheHumaneSocietyofManatee ment animal control spay and neuter vet-County (HSMC) was formed in 1970 by erinary centers are overwhelmed by thea small group of dedicated animal welfare pet over-population problem in the U.S.,advocates,whowerecaringforaban- said HSMCs architect Rick Bacon, FAIA.doned, sick and injured animals in their Thiseffortiscalculatedtofocusownhomes. Afteryearsofstruggleand resourcesontheproblemoftoomanyendless fundraising, the organization final- homeless or abandoned companion ani-ly moved into a small house in 1978, offi- mals. Reducing pet over-population andciallybecomingtheareasfirst no-kill keeping pets in their homes are two goalsshelter. The nonprofit has been expanding of the animal welfare movement, offeredits facilities at the same Bradenton loca- Bacon.tionovertheyears,asthecommunitys Future expansion goals at the shelteranimal welfare demands continue to grow.include the acquisition of an X-ray machine and offering low-Planning and fundraising efforts began in 2007 to open the cost dental services. Terri Romano, Veterinary Practice Manager,countys first and only high-volume, low cost spay and neuterclinic. The facility opened in 2009, after being selected to oper-ate as a Humane Alliance clinic. Humane Alliance is an ASPCAprogram that offers mentoring services and guidance to othersin an effort to successfully replicate a tried and tested high-vol-ume,high-quality,low-costcompanionanimalsterilizationclinic model.Having completed more than 35,000 spay/neuter surgeriessince opening, the HSMC shelter and clinic quickly outgrew itsspace.In November 2013, the HSMC board agreed to purchasethe building that formerly housed the Salvation Army ThriftStore, right next door to the shelter. Bacon Group Architecture,a Florida firm with more than 20 years experience designinganimal care facilities, was retained. The $830,000 facelift, whichincluded gutting and renovating the interior and exterior of thePhotograph by Greg Wilsonbuilding, was completed by J.E. Charlotte Construction.On September 9, 2015 the 10,000-square-foot Pet Health said, Dental care is critical to an older animals health. Its not aCenter officially opened to the public. There are now three luxury. Its a necessity. We want to be able to offer the service atwellnessexamrooms,asurgeryroomandamulti-program ournonprofitpricing.PriortojoiningHSMC, Terriwastraining center for volunteers and staff.Operations Manager for Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT) forWhen we toured the new facility, just a month after its six years. opening, Amy Van Dell, executive director of the shelter, told us An area that once was the recovery room in the old build-they had just completed 600 surgeries. The high-volume spay ing will soon be transformed into a natural habitat for cats. Thatand neuter veterinary clinic will make a dent in pet over-pop- room and a feral cat porch should be completed by the end ofulation in the Manatee area. the year.(Continued on following page) gwww.TheNewBarker.com Winter 2016 THE NEW BARKER 55'