The façade of the new Nassau Humane Society animal shelter
which was designed by local architect John Cotner.

A ‘very impressive’ new animal shelter

The new Nassau Humane Society shelter, which will cost a total of $2.3 million when it is done, is nearly finished and on the brink of its Nov. 7 grand opening. 

A series of three large structures located down the road from the current facility, the new animal shelter is about 11,000 square feet in total and will be able to accommodate up to 70 cats and 44 dogs, with an extra 20 dog kennels for dogs being quarantined after intake. 

The adoption center features an open reception area, several lab rooms, ample office space, quarantine and holding areas, a large indoor/outdoor cattery, an expansive courtyard between the dog kennels for the exercise and viewing of adoptable dogs, and a community education room. 

According to Executive Director Tom Christenson, who started the job last spring, the facility was designed by local architect John Cotner. Funding for the project came mostly by way of donations from private parties, plus a city grant of $500,000. 

“The most impressive thing, being new to the Nassau Humane Society, is the number and dedication of volunteers,” Christenson said. “Without all the support and hard work of all the volunteers, NHS would not be able to build the new shelter.”

“The new shelter is very impressive, and it will be able to hold three times the amount of animals we can now,” Christenson said. “The new shelter will help us get closer to our goal of becoming a ‘no kill’ community.”

The Nassau Humane Society, which has a contract with the city for animal control, also partners with Nassau County Animal Services, bringing many dogs from the county facility to the city’s, which allows adoption services to be available to more potential dog owners.

According to Christenson, the major donors to get shelter fundraising off the ground are Pat and Dave Smith of the Chardonnay Foundation, who donated a total of $400,000 for the new facility, but there were many other donors. The city of Fernandina Beach committed $500,000 toward the shelter, with the last $75,000 going toward the new facility this month. 

The former animal shelter, which did not have indoor kennels for dogs, had long been considered too small and inadequate for the city’s animal control services. According to Christenson, no decisions have been made as to the use of the old structure. 

The ribbon cutting and grand opening for the new shelter is 11 a.m. Nov. 7, with tours of the facility from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and from 4-6 p.m. 

Fundraising continues for the new building. Donations and inquiries can be made online at www.nassauhumane.org or by calling 491-1511.

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