Manatee County Opens First Phase of Bishop Animal Shelter Modernization

Manatee County Animal Welfare has inaugurated the initial phase of the comprehensive expansion at the Bishop Animal Shelter in Bradenton, Florida, representing a significant financial commitment to domestic animal care. This undertaking, budgeted at $12 million, is designed to transition animal operations from the aging Palmetto facility, which has served the community since the 1940s but suffered from outdated infrastructure and overcrowding.

The completion of this first segment introduces eight new, climate-controlled kennel buildings engineered for canine residents, immediately increasing housing capacity and prioritizing enhanced environmental enrichment. The architectural design emphasizes animal comfort and safety, featuring individual dog dormitories capable of independent heating or cooling to maintain optimal conditions. A key improvement is the expansion of outdoor access, with the design incorporating eleven dedicated play yards, each approximately 2,500 square feet, effectively more than doubling the available outdoor exercise space compared to the previous configuration.

County leaders, including Manatee County Commission Chair George Kruse, stated that these upgrades are central to a strategy aimed at reducing the length of stay for animals. The improved environments are intended to facilitate better socialization and provide quicker, on-site access to medical services, thereby supporting Manatee County's established no-kill status, which requires a live release rate of at least 90 percent for adoptable animals.

The Bishop location is now established as the primary operational hub for animal care, treatment, and enrichment, a consolidation noted by County Communications Coordinator Michael Strollo as long-awaited. Security enhancements were integrated, including coyote-prevention measures such as rolling bars atop fences, alongside fire-suppression systems installed in every new kennel structure. The existing 24,000-square-foot medical facility remains on campus, ensuring proximity for efficient veterinary care delivery.

This initial kennel completion marks the first major step in a multi-phase strategy. The subsequent phase, which includes the construction of a new administration building and a dedicated adoption center, is currently scheduled for final completion in July 2026. The county’s Cat Town location in Bradenton will maintain its separate operations.