Editorial
Polk County Commissioners are aware of the current situation at Animal Control and some of them care but the political culture and hierarchy means risking their jobs to stand up to Grady Judd – that culture has existed, and been supported by voters, for decades.
The commissioners are also accomplices and accessories to the neglect and cruelty going on at Animal Control because they are aware and do nothing. I challenge the commissioners to go to Animal Control and see the real issues.
Unfortunately, despite tremendous gains over the last 30 years in bringing transparency, accountability, and improvements to the pound industry, the last few years have seen those gains slowly but increasingly eroded. In other cases, like the pound in Polk County, they simply continue business as usual, neglecting and killing animals despite readily available, cost-effective, non-lethal alternatives they refuse to implement.
Sheriff Judd is taking credit for rescues and nonprofits doing his job for him. Where is their government funding, Sheriff?
Why should they have to raise their own funds to do your job?
Lets see some arrests made for the animal abuse and neglect going on at the shelter. Just as the sherrif would arrest any other civilian committing the same acts. Did he not arrest his own daughter for a dui years ago? The commission is at fault? Arrest them! The employees are at fault? Arrest them! The sherrif is at fault? Arrest them! Hes not as tough on crime as he says he is. A real man with integrity and honor, which any sherrif should be, would resolve the problem, not bury and bully it.