The Town of Lady Lake’s new animal control officer is thinking of creative ways to save animals’ lives without burdening taxpayers.

Denise Williams
Denise Williams

Denise Williams, who became the town’s animal control officer in December, has been rounding up donors and using communication tools to try to save more dogs and cats.

She previously worked at Lake County Animal Services which is now under the authority of Sheriff Gary Borders.

The town had a spot with six kennels at the Public Works building. With some donated crates, Williams has been able to carve out a little more room for animals.

Previously, animals picked up by the town’s animal control would immediately have been transported to the county facility. That could have included pets who were simply lost.

Lady Lake Police Chief Chris McKinstry, who has responsibility for animal control, said in two recent automobile accidents, pets were riding along with their owners. The owners were transported to the hospital and thanks to Williams’ ingenuity those pets had a place to stay until the owners’ friends could come and reclaim them.

“And they didn’t have to go all the way to Tavares,” the chief said.

Williams, who is for all intents and purposes a one-woman army in Animal Control, is already using the town’s website to promote animal adoptions and reunite missing pets with their owners. You can see some of those animals at this link:

http://www.ladylake.org/departments/police-department/animal-control-2

Town Manager Kris Kollgaard was persuaded to adopt a cat.
Town Manager Kris Kollgaard was persuaded to adopt a cat.

The enthusiastic Williams called upon her powers of persuasion to coax some town employees to adopt animals. She even talked Town Manager Kris Kollgaard into adopting a cat.

Williams wants to use Facebook and potentially other free sources of social media to further promote animal adoptions.

She has also presented to the Lady Lake Commission ideas about using a GoFundMe site online to raise money and has even lured a potential $5,000 donor.

Lady Lake commissioners were receptive to Williams’ presentation at Monday’s commission meeting, but cautioned that the town needs to keep a close eye on its expenses.