Trap, neuter and release? Polk Sheriff’s Office calls it a ‘terrible idea’, but are they really telling the truth?

For more than three years, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has taken a deluge of criticism for the way it runs Animal Control. It started with https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2023/05/16/why-isnt-sheriff-grady-judd-not-listening-to-the-facts-about-tnr-but-he-murders-1000s-of-cats-every-year-for-the-money/ in May 2023.

The Polk Sheriff’s Office has been mightily pissed off about all the articles the Lakeland Gazette has written on this subject. The Sheriff ordered an officer to go to the owner’s home and ask how he was. This was a form of intimidation by Grady Judd, but it did not work! HaHa Grady

Activists have complained to the County Commission and state legislators about conditions at Polk County Animal Control, the facility’s high kill rate, and the Sheriff’s Office’s refusal to implement a trap-neuter-release program for feral cats.

The activists argue that TNR programs are the only humane method of controlling cat populations in the wild.

TNR is a non-lethal technique for managing unowned, free-roaming cats. The cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian, ear-tipped (the universal sign that they have been sterilized), and returned to where they were trapped.

Since January 2018, more than 40,000 cats and dogs have been euthanized at Polk County Animal Control. In 2024 alone, the county killed more than 5,000 – 100 a week on average.

Florida Statute 828.12 defines and penalizes animal cruelty, making it illegal to unnecessarily overload, torment, deprive of sustenance/shelter, or mutilate/kill animals, classifying it as a first-degree misdemeanor with fines up to $5,000, but also includes provisions for aggravated cruelty (felony) involving intentional torture, leading to mandatory fines and counseling, and allows courts to ban offenders from owning animals, with recent laws (Dexter’s Law) adding a public database for convicted abusers starting in 2026. 

Key Provisions of Florida Statute 828.12:

• Misdemeanor Cruelty (First Degree): For unnecessary overloading, tormenting, depriving, mutilating, or killing any animal, or cruel transport.
• Aggravated Cruelty (Felony): Intentional torture or torment that causes serious injury or death; carries a mandatory $2,500 fine, counseling/anger management, and a potential 100% sentence for repeat offenses.
• Penalties:
• Up to 365 days in jail and/or $5,000 fine for misdemeanors.
• Mandatory $2,500+ fines for aggravated cruelty, plus potential prohibition from owning animals.
• Veterinarian Protection: Licensed vets are protected from liability for decisions made under this statute.
• Dexter’s Law (2025): Adds a public database of convicted animal abusers, effective January 1, 2026, increasing transparency and consequences. 

What it Means:

• This statute sets the baseline for animal welfare laws in Florida, making many forms of mistreatment a crime.
• It distinguishes between general cruelty and severe, intentional abuse (aggravated).
• New legislation enhances penalties and public awareness, showing a tougher stance on animal abuse. 

The Sheriff’s Office persistently rejects the arguments on TNR.

Scott Wilder, the sheriff’s director of communications, said in an email that the criticism is coming from “a small, vocal group of pro-feral cat release activists.” He said the activists don’t like the sheriff’s opposition to TNR programs, “so they make broad criticisms about our facility, staff, and policies.”

“The activists want county government to spend taxpayer dollars to sterilize and release thousands upon thousands of cats into Polk County neighborhoods. We do not support this practice,” Wilder said.

“It is a terrible idea. Feral cats are invasive and negatively affect wildlife, especially wild birds.

“TNR colonies attract more non-sterilized cats (that continue to breed) because of the food provided to these colonies,” Wilder said.

“Feral and at-large cats don’t live as long as well-cared-for indoor cats. They suffer predation by coyotes and other predators, are killed by traffic, and they die and suffer from disease and untreated injuries. The establishment of TNR colonies is neither humane nor proven to be effective at reducing feral cat populations,” Wilder said.

The studies that Wilder quotes are not reliable and not peer reviewed.  

• University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in 2020

• A statement on PETA’s website says, “Sadly, our experience with trap, spay-and-neuter, and release programs and ‘managed’ feral cat colonies has led us to question whether or not these programs are truly in the cats’ best interests.

• Wilder noted a wide variety of organizations oppose TNR programs, including the American Bird Conservancy, The Wildlife Society, The Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Peer reviewed studies:

Several peer-reviewed studies, particularly from the University of Florida (UF) and involving the University of Central Florida (UCF), demonstrate the effectiveness of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in reducing community cat populations, improving welfare, decreasing shelter intake, and lowering euthanasia rates in Florida, highlighting long-term success and cost-effectiveness when implemented intensely. Key studies have shown significant population declines (e.g., 85% at UCF over several decades) and improved outcomes for cats in rural areas, demonstrating the viability of TNR with consistent management. 

Key Florida TNR Studies & Findings:

• University of Central Florida (UCF) Campus (Long-Term): Multiple studies documented an 85% reduction in the campus cat population over nearly 30 years (1991-2019) through a volunteer-run TNR program, showing sustainable long-term results even with university growth.
• University of Florida (UF) Shelter Medicine: A 2025 study of 110 Florida shelters found strong links between TNR/Return-to-Field (RTF) programs and better feline outcomes, especially in rural areas with high intake/euthanasia.
• Orange County, Florida: A six-year study showed that implementing TNR reduced cat euthanasia while also decreasing complaints about cats to animal control.
• North-Central Florida (Survey): A 2002 study noted a 27% reduction in 132 colonies, though some data limitations (caretaker recall) were noted, highlighting the need for careful tracking. 

Why These Studies Matter:

• Population Control: They provide evidence that TNR, when done intensely (sterilizing a high percentage of cats), stabilizes and reduces free-roaming cat numbers.
• Shelter Impact: TNR/RTF programs reduce the number of cats entering shelters and free up resources for other animals.
• Welfare Improvement: They improve the health and welfare of the cats by preventing births and addressing illnesses. 

Where to Find More:

Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health: Publishes studies like the 2025 Florida shelter survey.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science: Hosts research on TNR ethics, population dynamics, and effectiveness.

Faunalytics & National Feline Research Council: Offer summaries and analysis of these studies. 

Wilder said that pet overpopulation in Polk County is primarily caused “by irresponsible pet owners and pet custodians,” people who feed non-sterilized stray and at-large animals, who don’t sterilize their animals.

Wilder said a common complaint of activists is Polk County’s high kill rate, which frequently tops the state.

Responding to those complaints, Wilder said Polk County is the ninth most populous county in Florida and has the eighth highest in number of live outcomes in the state. He said in the past five years, Polk County Animal Control has spayed, neutered, provided medical care for, and adopted and placed more than 27,000 stray dogs and cats.

“Animals at our facility are well-cared for by animal control members who love animals and work hard every day to make a difference,” he said. “This is truly a labor of love for our members. They work hard to care for, save, and adopt pets.”

But Wilder had no comment on this article; A Lakeland family was forced to euthanize a 10-week-old sick puppy adopted from the Polk County Animal Control Shelter

Wilder said Polk County Animal Control is an open intake, public animal control facility that responds to “demand and need” while also handling investigations into abuse, neglect, and cruelty, and calls for animal complaints, strays, nuisance animals, at-large animals, feral cats, and other wildlife.

Florida Statute 823.15 Public or private animal agencies; sterilization required for dogs and cats released; recordkeeping requirements; microchipping; public records exemption.—

(1) The Legislature has determined that the importation of dogs and cats into, and the uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats in, this state pose risks to the well-being of dogs and cats, the health of humans and animals, and the agricultural interests in this state. Importation of dogs and cats from outside the United States could result in the transmission of diseases that have been eradicated in the United States to dogs and cats, other animals, and humans living in this state. 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 the 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.

(2)(a) Each public or private animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane organization or by a county, municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision, shall prepare and maintain the following records and make them available for public inspection and dissemination for the 3 preceding years. The following data will be available on a monthly basis commencing July 31, 2013:

1. The total number of dogs and cats taken in by the animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency, divided into species, in the following categories:

a. Surrendered by owner;

b. Stray;

c. Impounded;

d. Confiscated;

e. Transferred from within Florida;

f. Transferred into or imported from out of the state; and

g. Born in a shelter.

Species other than domestic cats and domestic dogs should be recorded as “other.”

2. The disposition of all animals taken in by a public or private animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane society or by a county, municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision, divided into species. These data must include dispositions by:

a. Adoption;

b. Reclamation by owner;

c. Death in kennel;

d. Euthanasia at the owner’s request;

e. Transfer to another public or private animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane society or by a county, municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision;

f. Euthanasia;

g. Released in field/Trapped, Neutered, Released (TNR);

h. Lost in care/missing animals or records; and

i. Ending inventory/shelter count at the end of the last day of the month.

3. A public or private animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane society, or by a county, municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision that routinely euthanizes dogs based on size or breed alone must provide a written statement of such policy. Dogs euthanized due to breed, temperament, or size must be recorded and included in the calculation of the total euthanasia percentage.

(b) Records of a public animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane society must be made available to the public pursuant to provisions in chapter 119.

Should the Sheriff be charged with animal cruelty or aggravated cruelty (felony) involving intentional torture?

You are welcome to leave comments below……