Letter - Unanswered questions regarding the conditions at Polk County Animal Control -

I am following up on my unanswered email last week regarding the conditions at Polk County Animal Control. According to public records, if last week was a typical one, more than ONE HUNDRED animals have been euthanized at Polk County Animal Control since I reached out just seven days ago.

I would like to remind you of Polk County Animal Control Ordinance 18-068, which states that “The Board of County Commissioners shall designate Animal Control Authority as an entity acting alone or in concert with other local governmental units.” The Board of County Commissioners cannot continue to pretend that it does not have the authority or responsibility to act.

Additionally, I would like to invite the Sheriff to attend the upcoming Board of County Commissioners meeting on December 16th to hear directly from the citizens regarding their concerns at Animal Control, including but not limited to:

The prohibition of phones in the facility limits governmental transparency and reduces the visibility of adoptable animals.

Having to wait for a shelter escort to enter the facility is inefficient and unnecessarily reduces taxpayer access.

The failure to implement even the most basic of strategies to increase reunification of animals with owners, like a physical bulletin on the premises to post lost and found animals flyers.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

-Concerned Polk County Homeowner

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One thought on “Letter – Unanswered questions regarding the conditions at Polk County Animal Control”

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣, 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 🚫👀
Division Procedure 246250.18 (July 9, 2025) imposed major restrictions:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qBm3yqqAnvGFfpKsrJb4RdQKUUO6rglf/view?usp=drivesdk

• Created “public,” “controlled,” and “private” zones with 6–8 ft fencing blocking visibility 🚧
• Prohibited phones/electronics in controlled zones and required escorted access 📵
• Eliminated the volunteer program and barred rescues from euthanasia areas ❌🤝
• Added “Bad Dog” signs throughout (Representative Judson Sapp noted these; see attachment #4) ⚠️🐶
Despite these measures, the facility documented 2,037 animal escapes in 6.5 years, linked to untrained inmate labor — not the public. 🚨

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗖𝗖 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 (𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧) 🏛️🗣️
• June 3, 2025: Commissioner Bill Braswell told citizens “We are not going to help you… you are in the wrong place” (23:00) and attempted to remove an audience member.
http://www.polk-county.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/7664?site=1

• June 13, 2025: BOCC repealed its 12-year resolution and moved general public comment to the end of meetings (2025-064). County Attorney Randy Mink linked the change to recent shelter testimony.
http://www.polk-county.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/7667?site=1

• June 30, 2025: Braswell referred to advocates as “these animal people,” said they “frustrate our meetings,” and suggested they speak only at the end.
https://www.polk-county.tv/internetchannel/show/7675?site=1

• July 1, 2025: BOCC required all general public speakers to be sworn in under oath, a practice courts have found can chill participation.
https://www.polk-county.tv/internetchannel/show/7676?site=1

• September 2, 2025: Commissioner Becky Troutman admonished advocate Saralyn Smith for protected Facebook speech, and the Chair blocked her from responding.
http://www.polk-county.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/7695?site=1

• Same meeting: Chair Rick Wilson said the BOCC “will NOT take action” on Animal Control unless the Sheriff requests ordinances, while also stating the BOCC cannot direct the Sheriff — leaving citizens with no pathway for redress.

• November 18, 2025: Commissioner Michael Scott conditioned citizens’ right to speak on using a “different tone,” praised by Chair Santiago.
https://www.polk-county.tv/internetchannel/show/7721?channel=1

These actions transform public comment from an open forum into a setting where criticism is discouraged, contrary to First Amendment principles. ⚖️❗

𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 (𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗) 📰🔍
Representative Anna Eskamani shared the Orlando Sentinel investigation on her official Facebook page, and we spoke briefly by phone. ☎️

Orlando Sentinel — 11/29/25

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/29/high-kill-rates-little-oversight-advocates-slam-dirty-harmful-polk-animal-shelter/

James Madison Audits — 11/18/25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWCmyzdOl98
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17YwxUiocN/

Tampa Bay 28 — 08/20/25

https://www.tampabay28.com/news/region-polk/bad-dog-sign-at-polk-county-shelter-sparks-anger-from-animal-advocates

The Ledger — 08/14/25

https://www.theledger.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2025/08/14/animal-welfare-funding-pleas-highlight-polk-legislators-meeting/85614785007

ABC Action News — 07/11/25

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-polk/advocates-will-yet-again-ask-commissioners-for-change-at-polk-co-animal-control

FOX 13 — 06/03/25

https://www.fox13news.com/news/animal-welfare-advocates-call-change-amidst-dog-overpopulation-euthanasia-crisis-polk-county