Editorial
Excerpt from FL Statute 823.15(1) Uncontrolled breeding results in the birth of many more puppies and kittens than are needed to provide pet animals to new owners or to replace pet animals that have died or become lost. This leads to many dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens being unwanted, becoming strays and suffering privation and death, being impounded and destroyed at great expense to the community, and constituting a public nuisance and public health hazard. It is therefore declared to be the public policy of the state that every feasible means be used to reduce the incidence of birth of unneeded and unwanted puppies and kittens. Determining which programs result in improved adoption rates and in reduced euthanasia rates for animals in shelters and animal control agencies is crucial to this effort.
Every feasible means be used to reduce the incidence of birth of unneeded and unwanted puppies and kittens.
But Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and his staff refuse to follow the law which they were happy to email the Lakeland Gazette the Florida Statute.
The Lakeland Gazette asked the Polk County Sheriff’s Office a question. Polk County Sheriff sells euthanized dogs and cats … question how much do they sell them for Dogs? Cats?
Answer:
Dog cadavers are donated to the University of Florida Veterinary Department in Gainesville, Florida. These are donated, not sold.
Cat cadavers go to Bio Corporation (a company that provides cadavers/specimens to educational institutions).
They pay $10 per cat cadaver to the PCSO.
So it becomes a money game for Polk County Animal Services more you kill more you make!!!
Polk County Animal Services will never become a kill-free animal shelter when there is a way to make money.
The FL Statute 823.15 even talks about Trapped, Neutered, Released (TNR) but Capt. Steven Horstman stated to the Lakeland Gazette that Polk County Animal Services will “Never have a TNR Program”.
But there are very successful THR programs in Lakeland such as the one at Florida Southern College.
But currently, there is no county ordinance for the TNR program so current caretakers could be arrested by Grady Judd.
ABC Action News reported on July 26, 2021 – “Polk County continues to rank #1 in Florida for shelter animals killed”.
While many animal control agencies are on track to becoming no-kill shelters, there’s one county that has led the state in euthanization rates for at least three years now (2018, 2019, and 2020) — that’s Polk County.
ABC Action News made several attempts to reach the Polk County commissioners about the possibility of legislation via phone and email. ABC Action News did not receive a response.
The Lakeland Gazette has found out that the Polk County Commissioners in general are not particularly animal-friendly. Add to that the fact that they are all afraid of Sheriff Judd because they all want his endorsement to come reelection time.
First, why is there a horrible picture of dead cats stacked up? It isn’t a picture from Polk County. Second, this sounds like a county commissioner issue and not a Sheriff Judd issue. By the way, it’s insulting to the readers to state that as long as there is financial incentive it won’t stop. I’m positive the county has more than $10 invested in each cat that is euthanized. I’m not against TNR, but I am against villainizing the wrong person.
Judd is 100 percent in charge of animal services period in Polk County
When you say “Sheriff Judd does not care”, it marks you immediately as a liar.
Please interview the Sheriff BEFORE you post that statement.
We who read these posts would appreciate it if, when you have something negative to say, please also provide a solution(s).
What’s with all the trash talk about our Sheriff lately? You do realize Judd has support from most of the citizens of Polk County. Not to mention he does not give a McShit about your opinions of him.
Judd refuses to have a interview period. Animal services is his department.
Not sure how the Sheriff is
Responsible for implementing a new countywide program when the commissioners are the ones who must create the ordinances. Put it on the ballot for a vote.
That pile of dead cats made me physically nauseous. I am a cat lover and the photo was so offensive.
Judd is an absolute ******. To disregard an animals life like he does shows no humanity. These are sentinal beings. You don’t have to like animals, I feel God put them here on earth to teach us compassion and unconditional love. The strays yes let’s get them taken care of fix them. Owners do your part. Get your pets spade or neutered. This is my opinion and we all have a right without being ridiculed. Carol
People, the truth needs to be shown. It makes you sick look at the picture of the dead cats, please, HELP to END EUTHANIZE the animals. I am a Cat Lover. I cry and ask for help to save their lives. Do not support government rulers that KILL cats and dogs. The same society that careless allows they to multiply or breed them, MUST PAY to keep them SAFE and ALIVED. For God save. What human race turned out to be ?????
This is the POS man that has the governorship in his sights. Remember this when he declares!
I absolutely loved Grady Judd and his policies. Now I am sorely disappointed. The end.
Grady Judd OWNS to US, CAT LOVERS an EXPLANATION about these AGAINST the LAW practices. Cats deserve better. Broken heart.
Your time would be better spent giving readers options for inexpensive neutering rather than bashing the sheriff. Let’s give solutions to the problem. That’s the best way you can truly help
The only solution is the TNR program that this Sheriff will not do.