PALM CITY — The American Humane Society has established its first animal sanctuary worldwide here. The eventual $10 million investment, at 4903 Southwest Quail Hollow Trail, also represents the society’s southeastern hub for animal rescue operations in the event of disasters. The society’s rescue team is moving to the 15-acre complex and will train along with volunteers. “This is a day that is a dream come true,” Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Society, which has hubs in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles — said here April 14. The society plans to use the sanctuary here as a model for more sanctuaries across the nation, Ganzert said.
Helping veterans
Additionally, the sanctuary will be the first residential center for the Pups4Patriots program, where service animals will be paired with veterans and first responders to help them cope with
post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. Veterans and first responders will be able to stay on site to become acclimated to their service animals. “The sanctuary is huge,” said Zack Chappell, an Air Force veteran who got acclimated to his dog Winnie about three years ago in a hotel. “This is massive,” he said. It’s great to be able to go out a door and be in a safe place, Chappell said, “instead of going outside a door and not knowing what’s outside of it.”
His service dog has helped him have the job and family he has today. “It’s given me my life back,” he said. The society also is planning to renovate a building for a dog kennel and may buy an adjacent property to house additional veterans. The latter may require a $2 million investment. The former is expected to require $1 million.
More to do
While rescue operations and the Pups4Patriots program got off the ground April 14, more work is planned. The society wants to build an Ark of Hope barn, which would have a multipurpose training room and be able to house a variety of animals from rescues as well as animal advocates. Ganzert is seeking $4 million for the project. The barn would be built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. The sanctuary is near to Interstate 95 and Florida’s Turnpike, so rescuers can get to other parts of the state quickly in a disaster.
“We’re ready to serve the community as soon as disaster strikes,” said Georgia Boyer, chief communications officer for the American Humane Society. Moreover, the sanctuary will be equipped to help in animal-cruelty and hoarding cases. And it will be a place where children can come to explore and learn about nature and animals, Ganzert said. “The sanctuary is more than a rescue center,” said John Payne, chairman of the board of the American Humane Society. “The remarkable new facility stands as a symbol of hope, healing and enduring power of the human/animal bond.”
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at [email protected] and at 720-288-6882.