Ocala nonprofit works to expand services amid Marion County’s homeless pet crisis
A local nonprofit is working to grow its footprint in Marion County as the homeless pet problem continues to strain the area’s resources.
Voices of Change Animal League says an estimated 40,000 cats and dogs in Marion County are not spayed or neutered — overwhelming shelters and clinics alike. Now, the organization wants to expand its clinic to meet that growing need and prevent animals from being turned away without care.
Executive Director Kate Rengel says the demand is already outpacing what they can handle.
“We really want to support people that love their pets and keep them in their homes,” Rengel said.
The clinic currently receives at least 10 requests a day to intake animals. Right now, about 50 dogs are on site, up to 15 cats, and additional animals are in foster care. The existing facility includes kennels and a 2,500-square-foot vet clinic.
When a pet gets turned away, owners are often left without options — and sometimes that means the animal goes without care entirely.
“We are really needing to expand those services in order to meet the needs of our community,” Rengel said.
What the expansion includes
The expansion plan calls for more than 8,500 square feet of new building space, along with expanded paved parking. That includes:
- A new vet clinic and resource center for services like vaccinations
- A quarantine and isolation building to allow the organization to intake more animals
Rengel says the growth isn’t just about Voices of Change — it’s about taking pressure off the county shelter.
“And our county shelter, there’s no way that they could take on the capacity of what is needed in this community. So by us growing our services and building additional buildings, that makes us a stronger partner and allows us to expand our services so that they aren’t taking the burden of everything on them,” Rengel said.
Spay and neuter at the center of the solution
Rengel says prevention is key to solving the county’s homeless pet problem long-term.
“So prevention and spaying and neutering pets in this community has become such an essential thing to keep pets out of shelters and to keep unwanted animals from being born,” she said.
What comes next
Voices of Change recently presented the expansion plan to Marion County’s Development Review Committee. The clinic now needs to clarify utility plans for the expansion before bringing them back to the county for final approval.
In the meantime, the organization is fundraising toward a $5 million goal to fund the new buildings.
Want to help? You can donate to Voices of Change Animal League here.