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Building a Healthier Tomorrow: Gulf Coast Humane Society Opens New Veterinary Clinic

GCHS Board President Lee Hall and Board Treasurer Jennifer Galloway cut the ribbon on the new clinic, with Executive Director Darcy Andrade.

On May 14, friends, neighbors, and community leaders joined us to celebrate the ribbon cutting of our new veterinary clinic. Just four days later, we opened the doors and started seeing patients. Here is a look at what this new clinic means for pets and the people who love them.

A milestone for GCHS and for Southwest Florida

On May 14, more than 80 people gathered at 2025 Arcadia Street in Fort Myers to celebrate the opening of the new Gulf Coast Humane Society Veterinary Clinic. The ribbon was cut by GCHS Board President Lee Hall and Board Treasurer Jennifer Galloway, marking the official opening of a building that has been years in the making.

Four days later, on Monday, May 18, the clinic opened to the public. Since then, our veterinary team has been seeing patients every day in a space built specifically for the work we do.

Guests gathered at the entrance of the new clinic for the May 14 ceremony.

Two clinics under one roof

For years, GCHS operated two separate clinics. Our general practice clinic was located on Swamp Cabbage Court, and our spay and neuter clinic operated across the street from our shelter on Arcadia Street. Both clinics served thousands of pets, but the buildings limited how much we could do and how many animals we could help.

The new clinic brings both under one roof. Our affordable general practice services and our high volume spay and neuter program now operate side by side at 2025 Arcadia Street, directly across from our shelter. Both of the old locations are now closed.

This matters for a simple reason. When a pet owner comes to us, whether for a wellness exam, a vaccine, or a spay or neuter surgery, everything they need is in one place.

Our client service team at the front desk of the new clinic.

More room to do more good

The new clinic is 10,078 square feet, and the difference is real:

The number of exam rooms doubled from four to eight. Surgical capacity expanded significantly, which means shorter wait times for spay and neuter appointments. The building was designed from the ground up for veterinary medicine, rather than adapted to it.

What does that look like in practice? More appointments available each week. More surgeries completed each day. More families able to access affordable care for their pets without long waits or long drives.

Our tour guides earned their capes. These staff superheroes led guests through the new building.

A community celebration

The ribbon cutting brought together the people who made this clinic possible and the people it will serve.

Attendees, staff, and local media gathered outside the clinic during the ceremony.

Speakers included: Rob Cooper, GCHS Board Vice President, who welcomed guests and opened the ceremony. Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson and Commissioner Tricia Petrosky, who spoke about what expanded access to veterinary care means for our city. Mark Stevens, President of Stevens Construction, the team that built the clinic. Dr. Anna Sims, our Medical Director, who shared what the new space means for her team and their patients. And Darcy Andrade, GCHS Executive Director.

Two of the most powerful moments of the day came from pet owners themselves, who shared firsthand how access to affordable veterinary care made a difference for their families.

Clinic client Megan Clark, with her dog Danny, shares what affordable veterinary care has meant for her family, alongside Medical Director Dr. Anna Sims.

Why this matters

This clinic was never just about a building. It is about what happens inside it.

Affordable veterinary care keeps pets healthy. It also keeps pets in their homes. One of the most common reasons animals are surrendered to shelters is that families cannot afford the care their pets need. Every appointment at this clinic is a chance to prevent that.

Expanded spay and neuter capacity means fewer unwanted litters and fewer animals entering shelters across Southwest Florida, including the municipal shelters we partner with.

That is what building a healthier tomorrow looks like. Not just for the pets we see in our exam rooms, but for the whole community.

The Gulf Coast Humane Society Veterinary Clinic at 2025 Arcadia Street in Fort Myers.

Visit the new clinic

The Gulf Coast Humane Society Veterinary Clinic is located at 2025 Arcadia Street, Fort Myers, FL 33916, directly across from our shelter.

For services, hours, and appointment information, visit gulfcoasthumanesociety.org/clinics