Citrus County says Lecanto animal shelter structures in place; move-in targeted for late September 2027

Citrus County staff provided an update on the new animal shelter in Lecanto, saying concrete forms are in place for several buildings and the project is on schedule for final acceptance in late September 2027.

“We are on schedule. We're hoping to move in animals and staff on the 09/25/2027,” a county staff member said. The staff member described Building 5 as the operating building for surgeries, Buildings 6 and 7 as kennels, and Building 8 as an isolation and recovery building for sick animals. The county later listed a target date for final acceptance on 09/24/2027.

County staff also emphasized efforts to preserve mature trees during construction. A project speaker said the county marked 44 mature trees and maintained a perimeter buffer and understory where possible, describing the site work as a potential precedent for future county projects that aim to keep natural buffers while developing facilities.

County officials did not announce additional budget or staffing details during the segment. The next publicly stated milestone is the final acceptance date; staff said animals would be moved in a few days after that acceptance.