Manatee County to get a new high-tech animal shelter in 2022 thanks to Bishop donation
Starting early next year, Manatee County will begin operating the Bishop Animal Shelter thanks to a donation agreement worth roughly $18 million.
Manatee County officials formally accepted the donation of the Bishop Animal Shelter along 59th Street West on Tuesday afternoon. The Mary E. Parker Foundation first announced plans to donate the longstanding animal shelter to the government in February, but the legal contract requires the county maintain a 90% save rate.
An animal shelter’s save rate is based on the number of animals that come into the shelter compared to the number of animals that a shelter euthanizes for various reasons, such as bite incidents and severe illness. In 2017, Manatee became one of the first Florida counties to achieve a 90% save rate, which is also referred to as “no-kill.”
The donation of 14.5 acres of land includes the newly constructed 24,000-square-foot shelter at 5718 21st Ave W. Bradenton. The Bishop’s former shelter, originally built in 1958, is also included in the transfer agreement.
“We’d be foolish not to accept an $18 million gift for a state-of-the-art facility,” said Commissioner Carol Whitmore, a self-proclaimed animal advocate. “The whole reason they called us is because we’ve done so well over the years.”
There are all sorts of bells and whistles at the new facility, including the latest surgery equipment, kennels with improved drainage for quick cleaning and play areas for the animals to exercise. The older shelter will need to be partially demolished for repairs, however.
Shelter donation will save animal lives
Those features are in stark comparison to the county’s Palmetto shelter, where surgeries take place in a cramped room that used to be a closet. Working out of the Bishop facility will save time, money and lives, said Sarah Brown, the county’s division chief of Animal Services.
“All of our surgeries will take place there, as well as digital X-rays, which are a huge bonus for us,” Brown said. “That’s a literal lifesaver for us because we have so many trauma cases from the field. We’ll be able to address those issues right away, as opposed to taking them to a veterinarian off-site and hoping they can fit us in for an appointment.”
If the county fails to meet that save rate in the future, the donation agreement gives the Parker Foundation the ability to take the shelter back.
“We’ll work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Whitmore added.
County staff entered into a partnership with the Best Friends Animal Society, a nationwide organization that connects shelters with one another to encourage adoption. That partnership saves lives by allowing overcrowded shelters to send animals elsewhere, preventing them from being put down in order to save space.
“Their shelter is pretty full and ours is pretty full,” said Sarah Brown, the county’s division chief of Animal Services, noting that Manatee will also take control of Bishop’s animal population. “Space-wise, it’s not feasible, so we’ll rely on Best Friends as a partner to transfer animals. We’re going to branch out and work even harder. At the end of the day, it’s a community effort. We don’t want to lose this amazing asset.”
Donation clears path for more local philanthropy
A foundation spokesperson previously told the Bradenton Herald that the donation agreement is a win-win for both parties. As the organization steps away from animal welfare, it will be able to donate money to other worthy causes throughout the county.
Parker passed away in 2020 at 108 years old. Her adoptive parents, Edward and Lillian Bishop, earned their family fortune by partnering with John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. Parker generously shared her wealth with a host of local organizations, including the State College of Florida, Manatee Memorial Hospital and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.
“She just lived to give away money. There’s nobody like her that I’ve ever been associated with,” Bob Blalock, a managing trustee for the foundation, said in February.
What happens next for Manatee’s old shelter?
Brown described the Bishop donation as a game-changer for her department. Manatee’s animal shelter at 305 25th St. W. in Palmetto has been overcrowded for several years. The facility, first built in 1988, doesn’t have enough space to meet the needs of the county’s growing animal population.
The county’s Palmetto shelter will continue to operate as a dog adoption center, with the medical team and impound staff based out of the new Bishop facility.
Manatee’s Animal Services Department will also address staffing issues. With roughly the same amount of employees as the Bishop shelter, the county’s shelter looks after nearly four times the number of animals.
“To put it into perspective, Bishop Animal Shelter has far less intake with a little over 1,000 (animals) a year. Ours is closer to 4,000 and close to the same staffing allocations,” said Brown.
Manatee plans to hire seven of Bishop’s employees to continue working at the shelter “to provide better care and lessen the burden on staff,” Brown added.
Commissioners welcomed the shelter into the government’s possession with open arms. They described Bishop’s gift as a win for animal lovers everywhere.
“District 3 could not be happier to have this gift right in the middle of the district,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge. “It’s a fantastic contribution to the county that will aid so many animals in the future.”
“This is truly a monumental day,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh added before complimenting the county employees who worked to secure the deal. “I’m so thankful and proud of you for all the hard work.”
Tuesday’s unanimous vote to accept the donation agreement means that the county will begin operating the facility in about 90 days. County staff are putting together a transition and hope to start using the Bishop shelter by the end of March.
