Executive Director Sarah Humlie and the staff at the Humane Society were all smiles as they officially opened their new facility Monday morning. The Barbara Grice Memorial Spay and Neuter Clinic was named after the former board president of the Pensacola Humane Society. Humlie says it was Grice’s dream to have a clinic devoted to spaying and neutering dogs and cats to cut down the number of pets that need to be euthanized each year. After a few years of fund raising, the organization applied for a grant from IMPACT 100.
They got it. Humlie says it was that Impact grant in 2013 that put them over the top and made this grand opening possible.
Barbara Grice passed away several years ago, but her sister Mary Barbera attended the ribbon cutting dedicating the clinic in her sister’s honor saying "I'm going to cry, but that's okay. When Barbara died she wanted no funeral or memorial service. Her friends and I said we would celebrate her when the spay and neuter clinic opened. That day is here."
The clinic is the only one of its kind in the area, the next closest one being in Mobile. Sarh Humlie says the facility should serve about 6,000 animals per year. The goal, according to Humlie, is to make Pensacola a "no-kill" community within 10 years.
Inside the clinic, as you would expect, everything is brand new and impressive looking. Dr. Marsha Martin says it’s a great facility and an overdue addition to the community. "Absolutely state of the art! Everything we need for what we're doing and (to) provide excellent patient care". And giving those four legged patients the best care and life possible is the legacy Mary Barbera and the rest of her family wanted for her sister. "This was Barbara's life. She spent more hours here, probably, than she did at work".
The Barbara Grice Memorial Spay and Neuter Clinic is located next to the Pensacola Humane Society shelter on North Q Street. It is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30am until 5:30pm. Appointments are suggested as, according to Executive Director Sarah Humlie, the clinic is already booked well into July.
For appointments call 850-898-3380. Or click here to book an appointment on line.
