Facility Expansion

HowToHelp_IMG_4965Alaqua Animal Refuge was gifted new property in Freeport Florida by MC and Stella Davis and plans on relocating there, making it our permanent home. The 100 acres of land will be used to continue our important work of rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of animals but will also expand our educational programs to benefit our community and it’s visitors.

Project ARC (Alaqua Relocation Campaign), our capital campaign for developing our new location, could not be possible without the support of our community and the helping hands of our wonderful volunteers. The following is the vision in the words of Laurie Hood, Alaqua Founder:

I can see so clearly Project ARC in its completed stage, as this has been my dream for many years – a space that will allow us to inspire even more people to make a difference. When this dream finally becomes a reality, here is a glimpse of what it will look like:

Alaqua Animal Refuge is a place where dreams come true, not only for the animals at our facility but also for all people who are dedicated to its mission. It is a place of healing, where animals who have been victims of abuse and neglect come to mend their broken bodies and spirits. At our refuge, these animals will find solitude and loving hands to care for them. It is a place where school children come out and call each animal by their name, and they leave with a desire to be a voice for the animals at our facility. For the animals who pass through our gates, Alaqua Animal Refuge becomes what can only be described as “heaven on Earth.” A place to call home, loving hands to care for them, and a hope for a better future – those are all things that we provide for each animal that comes to our facility.

Guests will enter a magical land of animals, wandering through exhibits and interactive enclosures of beings that they have never known or seen before. As for the animals that are up for adoption, you will find them living in an environment that is much like your own home so that potential adopters can easily picture them at home with their own families. The learning environment at the new facility will be unmatched. Students from all over will come out for weekend seminars on horse care or canine obedience. Local law enforcement will also benefit from hands on examples that will enable them to process their cases more effectively. Project ARC will feature a quaint chapel surrounded by woods that will be a private place for grieving families to hold a memorial service for their pet. We will feature housing in the form of rustic cabins as a space for interns from veterinary schools to stay while they spend time at our facility learning new skills. These cabins can also provide housing for future sanctuary founders who wish to visit and experience all that we have to offer. Project ARC will become a destination for animal welfare advocates throughout the country and a model for the future of animal refuges.

This dream is on its way to becoming a reality thanks to the love and support of this wonderful community. But we need your support now more than ever in order for this vision to come to life. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, to every hand that has helped us and every person who has supported us. We appreciate your continued support in turning this dream into a reality.