Welcome to
our
Web Site.
- Keith Pratt, Director
- Gail Judah, Kennel Manager
- Kellie Marx, Vet Asst.
- Shelia Scroggins, D.V.M., Mary
Smart, D.V.M., Barbara Lewis, D.V.M., Shelter Veterinarians
Our Mission Statement -
Bishop Animal Shelter
The mission of the Edward E. and Lillian H. Bishop
Animal Shelter, SPCA of Manatee County serving as a private
nonprofit organization within Manatee County shall be:
- The prevention of cruelty to animals.
- The relief of the suffering of animals.
- The care and placement of homeless animal.
- The encouragement of kindness toward animals.
- The encouragement of and assistance in the
enforcement
of all laws and ordinances for the prevention of
cruelty to
animals and for the protection of animals.
- The promotion of the welfare of animals,
particularly in
Manatee County.
Bishop Animal Shelter shall engage exclusively in
benevolent, charitable and humane activities related to the
mission statement.
Bishop
Animal Shelter Entrances are located
off of: 21st
Avenue West
or
59th Street
in Bradenton,
Florida.
(across from Blake Hospital)
About the Shelter
|
Bishop Animal Shelter is a privately
run non-profit animal adoption shelter founded in 1958
by two special people - Edward E. and Lillian H.
Bishop. Their love and caring for animals
resulted in their establishing the Bishop Animal
Shelter. The land comprising almost 40 acres was
formerly a citrus grove owned by the family. It
was decided by the Bishops to be the perfect place for
the increasing number of homeless dogs in the county.
The building was designed specifically for
unwanted, stray and abandoned animals and contrary to
what many people believe, never was a home for
people. Funding for the building and operation
of the Shelter comes through a Foundation endowed by
the Bishops. No city, county, state or federal
funding is involved in its operation.
The Shelter opened in June of 1958 by local
dignitaries including both Edward E. and Lillian H.
Bishop. It was considered state of the art for
an animal shelter at the time and this tradition
continues with the recent building of a $650,000
addition.
|
About the Bishops...
| Both Edward E. and Lillian H. were
born in Elyria, Ohio, and came to Bradenton on their
honeymoon in 1914. Arriving on their yacht they
quickly decided that they would make Bradenton their
winter home. Building a house on the banks of
the Manatee River was only the beginning of their
caring and commitment to the area.
The Bishop Planetarium at the South Florida
Museum was built with Bishop donations and both the
Manatee Players and the Manatee County Art League were
recipients of funding. Mrs. Bishop worked as a
volunteer nurse at the Bradenton General Hospital and
attended operations performed by Dr William D. Sugg in
the late 1940's and early 1950's. She donated
money to build and equip the Sugg Surgical Suite used
until 1968 at Manatee Memorial Hospital.
The legacy of their generosity and caring
continues today and the Bishop Animal Shelter is a
fine example. Their love of animals indeed lives
on and will, well into the future. The Bishops
owned dogs and Mrs. Bishop had a particular fondness
for squirrels.
Indeed the squirrels and other wild animals can
roam the grounds where almost 1500 animals were
adopted into new homes in 1998. |
Bishop Animal Shelter Hours
Adoption
Hours: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Days Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
|
Edward
E. & Lillian H.
Canine
Christmas Festival 2009
