TAVARES, Fla. — It was a doggone good day in Lake County Monday as officials and volunteers broke ground on a bigger and better animal shelter.

  • 31,000 square foot shelter to be completed within the year
  • Meant to handle overcrowding
  • Lake County has a No-Kill Shelter

The $7.8 million shelter will be able to house hundreds of dogs, cats, and other pets as the agency struggles to maintain a "No-Kill Shelter" status while handling overcrowding.

The new 31,000-square-foot facility will include a cat porch, a dog viewing area, a meet-and-greet area for pets and potential owners, an education room, a surgery room, isolation areas for dogs and cats, and adoption areas.

The facility is being built at 12280 County Road 448 in Tavares, not far from the current shelter on County Road 561. County officials say it should be finished within the year.

The new Lake County Animal Shelter is being funded with a penny sales tax.