JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Humane Society will begin demolition on its Beach Boulevard property on Thursday, which prepares groundbreaking for the new shelter building scheduled to open in the spring of 2017.

At approximately 43,000 square feet, the new building will feature indoor, climate-controlled housing for all animals and connect to the current JHS Community Animal Hospital, which was built in 2012.

“Each day we take another exciting step towards our much-needed new building,” said Denise Deisler, JHS executive director. “The most important part of this project is ensuring that the public knows JHS will be open throughout construction. We are committed to finding families for the same number of homeless pets as we have in previous years.”

Demolition is the next phase of construction for the new JHS Adoption and Education Center after a fire destroyed the shelter buildings and claimed the lives of 86 animals in 2007.

The buildings to be demolished include a small house, which most recently served as the administration building, the former warehouse and one section of outdoor dog kennels. Demolition is scheduled for approximately 9 a.m. Thursday.