Local animal advocates praised quick action by Sumter County commissioners to improve animal rescues and plug system gaps.
The county board added two animal control officers in its 2016-17 annual budget approved Tuesday night. The officers already are working, although the new budget doesn’t take effect until Saturday.
“We’ve made quite a bit of progress in one month and I’m very pleased with that,” said Villager Susan Gros, who often has been called upon to care for stray dogs when animal control officers are not available.
Wearing paper badges with the words “Dog Lives Matter,” about 50 dog owners attended last month’s board meeting to protest the euthanizing of a dog named Buddy. After hearing their concerns, commissioners asked County Administrator Bradley Arnold to work on addressing the problems immediately.
A last-minute placement for Buddy, a pit bull mix, was found about 4:45 p.m. Aug. 15 and a call was made to the humane society, which had closed at 3 p.m. The dog was euthanized at 8 a.m. the next work day before the humane society opened.
Bill Gottschalk, president of the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County, said the organization’s hours have been expanded to 5 p.m., matching the county’s animal control hours. A weekend animal control officer also will be on call.
In the past, animal control officers only dealt with aggressive animals during off hours and The Villages Community Watch often asked local residents to care temporarily for strays.
Arnold said the adding animal control officers means Community Watch should no longer ask residents to take care of strays.
Gros said she also is working with the humane society to set up a photo area so more attractive pictures can be taken of animals available for adoption.
Gottschalk said the partnership between the humane society and the county’s animal control division has saved about 1,230 animals since it started in early 2015. More than 900 animals have been spayed and neutered and 38 tons of animal food has been delivered to county residents who can’t afford it.
“I expect the relationship to grow,” he said.
Board Chairman Garry Breeden also praised the partnership.
“We couldn’t do it without each other,” he said.
Diane Ferguson, president of The Villages Responsible Dog Owners group, said more can be done.
She suggested a fostering program in which people could take animals temporarily for three days to three weeks, adding that Orlando has an animal fostering program.
“Whether its dogs, cats, gerbils, parrots or fish, we love our pets,” she said