Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Himelein.
Hi Meghan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Founded in 1971, Suncoast Humane Society is Suncoast Florida’s go-to animal welfare organization.
For 50 years, Suncoast Humane Society has stuck by animals and their people, helping tens of thousands of them live lives that are safer, healthier, and filled with love. We serve Southwest Florida including Charlotte, Sarasota, Lee, Pinellas, and surrounding Counties, our shelter helps more than 50,000 animals and people each year.
Hurricane Ian caused some devastating destruction to the shelter. However, with the help of out-of-state rescue partners. Suncoast was able to get all of the animals evacuated before the storm hit. The shelter itself lost many ceiling tiles, was saturated with rainwater. The winds ripped off doors and toppled supply cabinets. Our outdoor kenneling was overturned and play yard fencing destroyed. Bleachers from the athletic fields littered our parking lot while the grounds were completely blocked by downed trees and power lines. Without electricity we lost vaccines and medical supplies. The month’s supply of food for our pets and the community food bank became unusable. A lot of physical damage, but all of the animals were insured safe places.
After building a makeshift clinic in our mobile office and calling in a volunteer veterinarian, we were able to host a Wellness Clinic for all of the foster’s dogs and cats who needed vaccines, treatments, and check-ups. We have been slowly taking in more dogs and cats until the shelter is fully back to speed. We hired a full-time veterinarian to not only care for the animals in shelter but also provide preventive services for the community. He will be on board in the middle of January.
We are actively trying to help people reunify with their lost pets. In effort to show up where the need is greatest, we are designing a program aimed to help people who are displaced have temporary shelter for their pets. We have been hosting pop-up adopting events to help find permanent homes for our current animals in shelter and in foster care.
We are also in the process of a capital campaign for a brand-new campus. We are hoping to start the construction in March 2023. The campus will be built on 11.5 acres of foliage-dense land that tortoises and scrub jays call home to provide innovative shelter, a veterinary clinic, and a community empowerment center that seamlessly blends into the natural environment.
We are looking forward to the new year, helping pets and people live happier, healthier lives filled with love, together.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Maureen E. O’Nell Chief Executive Officer
Maureen is all about the Vision and the Future of the agency. Her areas of expertise are Nonprofits, Animal Welfare, and the Design of our new Campus. Maureen pours into her work, her passion for the Human-Animal Bond separates her from others.
Any big plans?
The plans for the future is really focusing on the new campus and continuing to find homes for animals. A new Director of Operations has been hired at Suncoast to help shape and create different programming for our organization.
Pricing:
- Adoption Fees: Puppies (less than 6 months old) – $200
- Adoption Fees; Kittens (less than 6 months old) – $150
- Adoption Fees: Dogs (7 months and over) – $125
- Vaccinations: $25-45
- Canine Spay Surgery: $135-175
Contact Info:
- Website: www.humane.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/suncoasthumane
- Facebook: facebook.com/suncoasthumanesociety
