Humane Society breaks ground on new clinic

TAMPA - Christmas came early for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay as they broke ground on a brand new clinic Monday.

There was no sign of Santa, except in the form of Bob Reina, a Tampa businessman who made the new Talk Fusion Animal Health Center possible with a $1 million donation.

"It's a huge milestone and a game changer in the community when it comes to animal welfare," Reina said.

Executive Director Sherry Silk says the Humane Society performed around 10,000 spays and neuters last year alone. Those surgeries were done at their 1,600 square foot facility, and they are expecting to double that number at the new clinic, which is more than six times larger.

Silk says the new clinic will also do much more than spay and neuter animals.

"The idea is you can come to our clinic, our affordable clinic, and you don't have to turn your animals in if they have health issues, and frankly, it's going to be better for our shelter animals too, because we're going to have all kinds of additional services that we can provide the homeless animals at our shelter," Silk said.

HSTB Board of Directors Chairman Connie Johnson says this is a huge step forward in fulfilling their mission: keeping people and their pets together.

"Because of the economy and the things that have happened, people have lost their jobs, have lost their homes. The most important thing to us, our mission, is to keep animals in their homes," Johnson said.

Bob Reina calls this a life milestone for him. Over the years he has supported the Humane Society financially and through adoption. He says two in particular, Thunder and Shadow, inspired him to make the six-figure donation that green-lighted the $3.2 million dollar project.

"It's a payback and a thank you to them for all the love and support they've given me through the years, because honestly, without that love and support, I really wouldn't be here where we are today and in the position to do what we're doing," Reina said.

Construction is underway, and if all goes as planned, the new clinic will open next fall -- just in time to celebrate the Humane Society of Tampa Bay's 100th anniversary.