Humane Society takes on long-time termite infestation

BRADENTON -- The Humane Society of Manatee County took advantage of a donor's generosity to tent one of its buildings for termites this week.

Because the animal adoption organization has yet to begin renovation of a building it purchased last year, about 30 dogs will be sheltered there until Sunday while exterminators do their work.

"The tenting has long needed to be done," said Amy Van Dell, executive director of the Humane Society. "So we're taking this opportunity to do it."

The Humane Society purchased the former Salvation Army Thrift Store, 2415 14th St. W., in November and plans to turn it into a veterinary clinic in the next several months.

The 10,000-square-foot building, just next door to the two-story building that contains the dog kennels, animal clinic and offices, will create a continuous campus encompassing several city lots.

"The building we're tenting was built in the 1940s," Van Dell said, "and we've dealt with recurring termite activity."

When they decided to do the extermination, a PAW Partner business stepped forward to sponsor the project, she said.

The work of another donor highlighted the damage termites have done to the two-story building on the corner of 14th Street and 25th Av

enue West.

The Lowe's store on 14th Street West donated the renovation of the employee kitchen area through its Heroes Program as a 2014 community service project.

Workmen discovered termite damage while tearing up the old floor so they replaced the subfloor and installed new tile.

"They also tore out an old counter and replaced the cabinets and sink," Van Dell said. "It really is beautiful."

The Humane Society moved into its first building, a former home, in 1978. In the early 1980s, it expanded into the two-story building directly south.

Several types of businesses were in the building before the Humane Society took over.

The original building houses between 30 and 50 cats, while the dog kennels and veterinary clinic are in the building being tented.

While the animals are in the former thrift store building, they will continue to be walked three times a day and have the company of all the administration and clinic personal, who also have to relocate for the tenting.

Come Monday, all the dogs will have been returned to their kennels and be ready for adoption.

It also will be the first Meow Monday, when people can adopt one cat and get another free. Meow Monday will be held throughout August.

This story was originally published July 31, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Humane Society takes on long-time termite infestation ."