Florida Wildlife Hospital

The Florida Wildlife Hospital's mission is to keep wildlife wild by providing quality, compassionate care.

- Our primary goal is to have healthy wildlife populations in our communities and to prevent the suffering of animals who have found themselves in harm's way.
- Our secondary goal is help residents and visitors appreciate and value wildlife in their neighborhoods.
- Our third goal is to provide rewarding and valuable volunteer opportunities to anyone from high school students to retired adults

Our guiding principles to help us reach our goals:
- Providing quality care through networking, continued education, and medical
advancements.
- Releasing only mentally and physically “sound” native Florida wildlife that
can positively contribute to the ecosystem in their intended way.
- Acting as the front lines for disease detection, treatment, and prevention.
- Empowering our community through education to protect native Florida
wildlife and their natural environment.
- Providing a place to give back through volunteering and donations.
- Providing internships to engage the younger generations ensuring continued
success of the wildlife rehabilitation field.
- Conducting business in a sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion.

- We are the only facility of its kind in the area and our mission began in 1973. Our business is centrally located and easy to find.
- Our passionate and dedicated staff shares their knowledge with each other and volunteers. They participate in educational opportunities to better themselves and the FWH.
- We partner with the Brevard Zoo with assistance from their two board certified veterinarians and a veterinary intern.
- We work closely with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Brevard County Sheriff's Office Animal Services, and the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County.
- Our volunteer program is always evolving to better serve our volunteers and our patients. Volunteers assist in every aspect of hospital operations, including animal care and education.
- Our donor base continues to increase due to new, more robust donor software, utilizing social and traditional media to tell our story.
- FWH is a member of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and Space Coast League of Cities, affording us the opportunity to more widely share our mission in the community.

Progress so far:

- FWH routinely receives traditional thank you notes often accompanied by a donation.
- FWH routinely receives positive comments on social media; the very few negative comments are personally responded to by the Director.
- FWH has been the subject of numerous radio reports and news articles. All have been in a positive light and with the goal of educating the public.
- Host annual events such as our annual 5K Running Wild Event and Hoot in the Park.
- Increased requests for educational programs (both in-person and virtual).
- Implemented a legacy giving program.

What's next:
- Continue to take care of our patients, staff, and volunteers.
- Protect and secure our property and resources.
- Facilities expansion: Increase patient holding spaces outside and hospital square footage.
- Strengthen our monthly membership program and increase financial support.
- Strengthen our marketing strategy.
- Expand our Board of Directors.