Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
A new animal sanctuary will soon be open, providing a range of services that will assist locals and provide a safe place for rescue animals.
Pitzer’s Paws, owned by David and Ashleigh Pitzer and operated by Denise Watson, will give dogs a new lease on life while also serving local families. The project has been a year and a half in the making.
“About a year and a half ago, Ashleigh and I decided to make Live Oak our home, and we wanted to start getting more involved with the community,” David, who is also CEO of Pitzer’s Paws, said. “We believed that having a dog rescue would be beneficial so Suwannee County could remain a no-kill shelter location and help take care of the overflow.” David also emphasized the need for dog grooming and animal boarding in Suwannee County.
In time, they laid out plans and incorporated the shelter as a nonprofit organization, and also acquired Watson, who worked with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office as an animal control officer. As Watson was preparing to work with the University of Florida, the Pitzers proposed the idea of coming to work with them to help with directing the program.
“To be able to do this, we had to have Denise,” Ashleigh said.
Watson emphasized that the culture she will be bringing to the organization as director will be one of learning. “Learning and experience will be big at the facility to ensure animal safety and health,” Watson said. She also stated that each of her starting staff will be trained in various health specialties, including performing animal CPR.
The Pitzers and Watson were initially looking at a location in town before it became unavailable. Then, they had an opportunity to look at the old Musgrove Construction building on U.S. Highway 90 East. After a few modifications, the Pitzers closed on the property, and since then, have been making interior and exterior changes prepare for the facility.
“You want that ‘wow’ factor and [want to] make the facility appealing to animal owners and visitors,” Ashleigh said.
The Pitzer duo’s purchase of The 406 last year temporarily delayed the work on Pitzer’s Paws. However, they were eventually able to pick the work back up and, since then, have repaved the parking lot and changed the building's color scheme from tan and brown to a lighter, green color. There are plans to include up to 15 kennels at the shelter, and as the facility grows, they plan to increase capacity.
“The kennels will be indoors and climate and sound controlled,” Watson said.
“Our goal capacity will be 50 or 60 kennels at the end,” David said. There are also plans to include a dog park, grooming and animal boarding, which will include cats.
“Many programs do not board cats,” Ashleigh said. “It will be a huge difference for pet owners needing options.”
The team hopes to host an open house around May, when the opening date approaches. They are also in touch with Suwannee High School to provide volunteer opportunities for students to obtain community service hours toward graduation. David said the plan is to bring up to 40 jobs to the community by opening Pitzer’s Paws.
“The love we have received from the community has been amazing,” Ashleigh said. “We wanted to give back and show how much we care.”