Harkins, Merski: $3 million awarded to construct new zoo veterinary center

ERIE, Oct. 26 – A $3 million state grant will fund construction of a new veterinary center at the Erie Zoo, state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski announced today. 

The lawmakers, both D-Erie, said the grant to the Erie Zoological Society – supported through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program – will fund work on comprehensive facilities to ensure animal health.

“The funding we helped secure today will support a landmark area attraction – our amazing Erie Zoo – by funding a state-of-the-art veterinary center,” Harkins said. “Once constructed, the new center will contain animal treatment, quarantine, and isolation spaces; surgical and imaging suites; veterinary offices; drug storage facilities; and even some limited public viewing areas. It’s going to be exciting watching the new facility take shape.”

Merski said, “The Erie Zoo delights and teaches kids of all ages, attracts thousands of visitors, and generates substantial tourism revenue for our region. But maintaining hundreds of animals outside of their natural habitat brings critical responsibilities. The funding awarded today for the new veterinary center will ensure those animals receive the best possible care. We are proud to have the zoo in our district and to have helped secure this funding."