A Summary of the Bishop Shelter Fiasco, how we got here, what’s wrong, and what we are asking for. There are many photos on the photos page (with many more to come) that depict the issues at Bishop. We also include links to documents and information shared with us by concerned citizens.
Prior to March 2026 Manatee County had two locations for dogs. Intake and medical were at the Bishop property and adoptions were at Palmetto. The Palmetto location was old (built 1940’s and renovated 1980’s). In the decades since, the county regularly underfunded animal services and refused to do even basic repairs making the facility feel even worse than it was. There was regular over crowding which left them doubling up runs and leaving dogs on the outside kennels. Volunteers regularly complained about conditions. These complaints lead to 11 volunteers being fired in 2023.
Over the last decade there have been intense talks and a lot of floundering about what to do. Eventually, it was decided that they would build a permanent structure at Bishop so all the dogs would be at one location.
One of our talented volunteers recently put together a wonderful document with the timeline and details from 2019 forward. This is a living document that will include updates and version changes as more things from the past are unearthed and future changes occur.
In 2023 the construction company HDR was hired for the adoption center. Since there were to be kennels in the adoption center, HDR reached out to Animal Arts. Animal Arts (see link) is an architecture and design firm based in Boulder, Colorado, that specializes exclusively in planning facilities for animals. Founded in 1979, the firm designs spaces like veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, pet boarding facilities, and guide-dog training campuses across North America. Animal Arts connected with the county and did a full report. This included interviewing staff and analyzing/advising. Their report (below) does “NOT RECOMMEND” moving forward with the prefabs. In 2025 the prefabs were purchased, appeared virtually overnight and here we are.
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What Advocates Are Actually Asking For:
It is clear that advocates are not asking to throw away the $12 million spent on the recent additions. The nearly completed $6 million Phase 2 Adoption/Administration Building is needed and should remain. The utilities, play yards, fencing, and much of the Phase 1 site work can remain as well.
The Bishop property already contains an upgraded medical facility fully equipped with a surgical suite, digital X-ray room, and isolation rooms. This medical facility was donated, along with the land, by the now dissolved Bishop Animal Shelter, SPCA of Manatee County, Inc. after Mary Parker died at age 108 in 2020. For timeline and history see https://bradentonmag.com/bishopsofbradenton/ and the Bishop-Parker Foundation website https://bishopparkerfoundation.org/
Volunteers and advocates are simply pointing out (with evidence) that the kennel trailers are unworkable and should be replaced with a proper brick-and-mortar kennel building—one built to a similar construction standard as the new adoption/administration building.
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By David Daniels as a Citizen / for himself. Shared w/permission & including links
By David Daniels, a brief history of what our commissioners have done so far.
What was Spent, Breaking Down the $12 Million Investment: (written by David Daniels for himself)
Manatee Shelter Watch 