Written by Laura Christmas 

MIDDLEBURG, Fla -- A new animal shelter will start to become a reality in early 2025. Crews are expected to start construction on the new building at the beginning of the year. It will be located on Sleepy Hollow Road.

This project has been in the works for years.

Operations have outgrown the current shelter, which is located in Green Cove Springs, and that shelter is also in danger of flooding during large storms.  Clay County Animal Services staff works hard every day to maintain the county’s no-kill status, and this new shelter will allow for even more opportunities to help our county’s animals.

The current shelter boasts 65 cat cages and 76 dog kennels and pens. The new shelter will augment these spaces and allow for more opportunities to help these animals, as well as increase capacity.

The new facility will also have a larger medical suite to accommodate more veterinarians, which would allow for more surgeries.

The new shelter will also be in a more centralized location, which county leaders hope will improve access and promote even more community engagement.

Community relationships are a key part of Animal Services’ continued success. The facility will boast additional meeting and training space that will allow for even more collaboration with other partner agencies.

E. Vaughan Rivers, Inc. won the bid, which was $21,515,585.00. Construction is anticipated to start in early 2025, and the project is estimated to take 18 months.