CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Clay County officials assembled on Tuesday to kick off the construction of the county’s upcoming animal services building in Middleburg with a groundbreaking ceremony.

According to the officials, the forthcoming facility will notably enhance the capacity of Clay County Animal Services, providing the opportunity to carry out more advanced medical procedures and assist a greater number of animals in need.

The requirement for enhancements has increased over recent years, as the existing facility, situated off State Road 16, has been facing capacity challenges and the risk of flooding during significant storms. The current facility accommodates 65 cat cages and 76 dog kennels and pens, as noted by the officials.

Despite these challenges, Clay County Animal Services remains a no-kill shelter.

The new facility will be built along Sleepy Hollow Road in what officials said is a more “centralized location” to improve access and promote community engagement.

During the ceremony, officials said Chewy Health pledged a $1 million donation, made in partnership with Lincoln Memorial University, to assist in the construction of an educational space in the facility. 

The learning center will serve as a mixed-use space for LMU veterinary students to gain a hands-on learning experience in a real-world shelter environment. The space will also be available for community events and other educational programming, officials said.

“We’re proud of the hard work our staff does each and every day for the animals in our care, and this partnership and new building will only augment those efforts,” said Clay County Commissioner Betsy Condon. “We’re not only building a shelter—we’re building more opportunities for our community, the animals in our county, and the aspiring veterinarians who will one day care for them.”

Additionally, county officials announced a first-of-its-kind effort to allow residents and animal lovers alike to leave their mark on the facility while providing donations to support the county’s mission.

The community is invited to take part in Paw-sitive Impacts, a permanent display wall that will live in the facility’s front lobby. The wall will feature personalized engraved paw prints to represent a donation to the shelter.

The new facility is expected to open in late 2026.