Animal Control

Questioned the ~$45M sheriff's project spending with nothing for animal care, asked why a spay/neuter program isn't budgeted, and accused the board of making decisions in agenda review meetings and treating public comment as a formality.

Reported 25 dogs taken in from a Haines City breeding situation with no ordinance violated, cited the county's 63% live outcome rate versus 95% in Hillsborough, and urged removing animal control from under the Sheriff's Office.

Accused Animal Control of inflating its live release rate by excluding 326 animals in new euthanasia categories from the calculation, and asked what standard supports that.

Said he complied with orders, got cited anyway, lost at the magistrate despite a 15-page document, and asked how to live without fearing citations while neighbors also feed cats.

Criticized the Animal Control website's inaccurate animal counts, praised the clean but aging shelter, and urged a county animal welfare division and financial help for rescues.

Gave an update on the animal welfare improvement model, praised progress at Animal Control, and asked for ordinances, support programs, and an animal welfare advisory committee.

Said her vision is brighter thanks to new animal control management, but the 1988 shelter can't handle the doubled county population — and pressed again for the advisory committee so the community can help.

Praised major improvements at Animal Control after a tour and a weekend dog adoption event.

Congratulated the shelter but raised concerns about a feline panleukopenia outbreak and lack of quarantine space; asked for an advisory group.

Said the 1988 shelter is deteriorating with nothing in the five-year capital plan for it and asked why the county isn't building a new facility.

Presented a community-backed plan: modernize the facility, fund wages and A/C, create a breeder licensing ordinance, open volunteering, an inmate dog program, and lift the phone/camera ban.

Thanked Animal Control staff and rescues, shared kennel stats and education flyers, pushed a shelter volunteer program, and announced an animal shelter reform meeting at Southeastern University.

Said the 1988 facility can't handle county growth toward a million residents, called for an animal committee and public outreach, and supported a spay/neuter funding program.

Reported mixed findings from a February 6 visit — some improvements but strong odor, cleaning still underway at opening time, and a dog left two weeks without medical care before emergency rescue.

Called for a new Animal Control facility to replace the 1988 building, said volunteers can't access it, and demanded an animal advisory committee — with herself on it.

Thanked Commissioner Troutman for explaining cold-weather protections for shelter animals and formally asked the county to build a new animal control facility, calling it infrastructure.