Group proposes taking on animal sheltering for Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County

Group proposes taking on animal sheltering for Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County

The City of Fort Pierce and St.

Lucie County could be one step closer to getting a fresh start in serving the homeless animals.

PIERCE ANIMAL SHELTER.

WPTVWAS THE FIRST TO UNCOVER THETURMOIL BEHIND THE DOORS OFTHE FORMER HUMANE SOCIETY OFST.

LUCIE COUNTY& NOW- A NEWGROUP IS OFFERING TO TAKE ONTHE CHALLENGE OF BEING THENEXT TO SHELTER ANIMALS INFORT PIERCE AND ST.

LUCIECOUNTY... MEGHAN MCROBERTSREPORTS ON THE PLAN THEY HOPEWILL WRAP UP A DARK CHAPTER INTHE CITYNATS FOR SEVERAL YEARS-OPERATION SOS- ANDVETERINARIAN- DOCTOR JULIEKITTAMS& HAVE BEEN SPAYING ANDNEUTERING THOUSANDS OF CATSTHROUGH THIS MOBILE VAN-CATERING TO RESCUEORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THETREASURE COAST.“HI WANT TOSHOW OFF?

IM UP FOR ADOPTION”KITTAMS HAS SEEN FIRST HANDTHE BURDEN FELT BY RESCUEGROUPS ACROSS OUR AREA- FROMTHE MORE THAN YEAR LONGCLOSURE OF THE FORMER HUMANESOCIETY OF ST.

LUCIE COUNTY.“SOMETIMES, DOING THE RIGHTTHING IS A LOT MORE THAN WEINITIALLY REALIZE” THE FORMERHUMANE SOCIETY OF ST.

LUCIECOUNTY CAME UNDER FIRE IN 2018FOR THEIR FINANCIALSHORTFALLS& LACK OFTRANSPARENCY& POOR INSPECTIORESULTS& AND CONDITIONSTHREATENING THE SAFETY OFSTAFF AND ANIMALS.

THECONCERNS CULMINATING IN 20WHEN A VOLUNTEER WAS MAULED TODEATH AT THE FORT PIERCESHELTER.“ANY COMMUNITY REALLYNEEDS TO HAVE A FUNCTIONALOPEN ADMISSION MUNICIPSHELTER” FORT PIERCE AND ST.LUCIE COUNTY DECIDED TO ENDTHEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THESHELTER..

AND TOOK ONOPERATING A TEMPORARY SHELTERTHEN-SPENT UPWARDS OF 500THOUSAND DOLLARS BRINGING THEFORT PIERCE LOCATION BACK UPTO CODE.

KITTAMS AND HER BOARDAT OPERATION SOS- WERE TIREDOF WAITING FOR AN OUTSIDEGROUP TO OFFER TO RUN THESHELTER PERMANENTLY.“ITBEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND ICOMMEND THE MUNICIPALITIES FORHANGING IN THERE” SO- THEYDECIDED THEY“MY BOARD AND I JUST SAT DOWNONE DAY AND SAID YOU KNOW, WECAN DO THIS.

ITAND SO WE DID IT” FORMING AWHOLLY NEW NON PROFIT- SUNRISEHUMANE SOCIETY&“A SUNRISE ISA PLACE OF NEW HOPE” PROPSINGA PHASED OUT PLAN FOCUSED ONTRANSPARENCY- BRINGING INQUALIFIED STAFF TO CARE FORANIMALS, FUNDRAISE, AND USETHEIR SHELTER PARTNERSHIPS TOREDUCE EUTHANASIA...“WEALREADY KNOW ALL OF THEPRIVATE SHELTERS.

ITPHONE CALL AWAY” THEIR PLANALSO ALLOWS FOR TEMPORARYFLEXIBILITY IN THE BUDGET- TSEE WHATSUCCEED.

AIMING TO GAINAPPROVAL FROM THE CITY ANDCOUNTY IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.“THE GOAL IS FEBRUARY 1ST.THAT IS A SHORT TIMEFRAME SOWESTARS THERE” MM NC 5A SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP