Brevard Bark House seeks approval for Titusville animal shelter at Flake Road

The Brevard County Commission workshop held on March 3, 2025, focused on several key issues, including a proposal for a new nonprofit animal shelter and discussions surrounding community engagement in local governance.

One of the most significant presentations came from the co-founder of Brevard Bark House, a nonprofit rescue organization. The speaker requested the use of a vacant building located at 2605 Flake Road in Titusville, which was previously operated as a private animal shelter. The organization aims to transform the space into a community-oriented animal shelter, featuring approximately 38 kennels. Their plan includes operating at 75% capacity to accommodate sick animals and assist other shelters with overflow. The co-founder emphasized their commitment to providing a home-like environment for the animals, with structured schedules for care and training. They highlighted their recent successes, including finding homes for over 4,000 dogs and distributing thousands of pounds of food and supplies to animals in need.

In addition to the animal shelter proposal, community advocate Kristin Lorti addressed the commission, expressing appreciation for the workshop and advocating for greater inclusion of citizen voices in discussions about county shelters. She raised concerns about the county shelter's handling of stray animals, citing specific cases where pets were returned to the field before owners could reclaim them. Lorti urged the commission to ensure that constitutional officers and citizens have the opportunity to participate in future workshops, emphasizing the importance of transparency and public engagement.

Commissioner Delaney also spoke about the need for improved communication regarding workshop agendas and public participation. He acknowledged the confusion surrounding the recent workshop and suggested that future events could benefit from clearer information and better outreach to the community.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the commissioners to consider the feedback received and to work towards enhancing community involvement in local governance. The next steps include further discussions on the animal shelter proposal and addressing the concerns raised by citizens regarding the county's animal services.