MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Miami-Dade County officials broke ground Tuesday on a new animal shelter in southwest Miami-Dade that will provide animal care, veterinary services and pet adoptions in an area officials say has long needed additional resources.
The South Dade Pet Adoption and Protection Center will be the county’s second permanent animal shelter. The facility is intended to serve residents in the southern portion of the county and reduce the need to rely on an overflow shelter in Medley.
“The needs have exploded, but the infrastructure in many ways, including pet shelters, has lagged behind,” Homestead Mayor Steve Losner said.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, whose District 8 includes much of South Dade, said the new facility is needed as the region continues to deal with a large number of animals in need of homes.
“If you live in South Dade, you know how desperately we need this,” Cohen Higgins said. “We have a lot of animals in this area that need homes.”
Miami-Dade Animal Services Director Annette Jose said the county’s existing shelter capacity has not been sufficient to meet demand.
“The community spoke up and our mayor listened,” she said.
The new center is also expected to address concerns about animal dumping, particularly in rural areas of South Dade.
“This will help a lot in this area where there is a real problem of dumping,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.
The facility will have the capacity to house up to 200 dogs and 100 cats.
Animal rescue advocates welcomed the project, saying additional shelter capacity could help the county respond to its ongoing animal welfare challenges.
“This thing is huge for the county, for the animal welfare crisis, for the people in this county,” said Barbara St. Aubin of This Is the Dog Rescue.
The project is expected to cost $25 million and cover about 30,000 square feet on five acres.
About $11 million of the build-out is being funded by developers as part of a land swap involving the county’s Medley property. The Medley property is expected to be redeveloped as workforce housing.
County officials say the new southwest Miami-Dade facility will expand access to animal services while providing additional space for animals awaiting adoption and veterinary care.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
