For 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners has received 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆—𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱’𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁— describing conditions and practices at Sheriff Grady Judd’s Polk County Animal Control that raise 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀. Despite the volume and sworn nature of this testimony, 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱.
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
– Sworn testimony and public records have described:
– ID requirements and photocopying are described as chilling public oversight
– Escorted and monitored viewing of animals
– Ban on phones and electronics
– Lack of comprehensive CCTV coverage
– Termination of the volunteer program
– Admonishment of community cat feeders despite no countywide feeding ban
– Rescue gag orders described by many as constitutionally suspect
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Sworn testimony and visitors have described:
– Rat and roach infestations
– Damaged cages and cots
– Inconsistent access to good and wholesome food and water
– Cats sleeping in litter boxes contaminated with feces
– Dogs are reportedly not receiving regular walks, and catsare housed without enrichment
– Testimony describing intracardiac euthanasia as extremely painful
– Former animal control officer stating he fainted from heat exposure
The shelter is nearly 𝟰𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗹𝗱, open-air, and located 𝟲𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 from a garbage landfill.
𝗟𝗮𝘄, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
Florida Statute 𝟴𝟮𝟴.𝟭𝟯 defines cruelty to animals to include failing to;
– supply sufficient quantities of good and wholesome food and water,
– confinement without wholesome exercise or change of air, or
-abandonment of sick or injured animals.
The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines require:
– Temperatures between 𝟲𝟰°F and 𝟴𝟬°F;
– Humidity between 𝟯𝟬% and 𝟳𝟬%;
– 𝟭𝟬–𝟮𝟬 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿.
In Florida’s climate, an 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻-𝗮𝗶𝗿 facility without HVAC cannot reliably meet required temperature, humidity, and ventilation conditions.
𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀
Highest-kill animal facility in the state for more than seven years
𝟮𝟭𝟮% increase in cat-cadaver sales over two years.
𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Listening without meaningful action is no longer neutral. It is becoming complicit with the allegations placed on the public record under oath!
WARNING: Graphic images.
These photos depict severe neglect and injury from recent cases in Polk County. They are shared to illustrate the real-world outcomes discussed above.
Damning evidence that the BOC does not give a rat’s behind about the people they are paid to serve.
I thought at least the Commissioners / Grady Judd was “concerned” though, didn’t they send an officer or officers to do a “wellness check” for the editor of The Lakeland Gazette to make sure he was doing OK? And yes, the trauma from seeing this really would and should make anybody sick. I have seen another photograph, with dead cats stacked like cordwood, but I can’t verify if that was taken at the Polk County Animal Control or somewhere else.
I’m a volunteer for a rescue and have gone there many occasions to take some from their from being euthed,it was hot,cats not even with ANY movement,no air circulation but one small fan blowing hot air,the two I last rescued from there had NO FOOD OR WATER and the one not even ANY bowls to give it..they openly published they sell the cat cabinets to a lab per cat n money goes to sheriff office not act and they don’t give the cats much chance due to their profits .the list goes on..when I was last there in summer they were taking the cats pulses to see if they were still alive.no comfort but bare metal cages,once very long ago I had to take my beloved 2cays there loosing my home to landlord quick home sale of my rental I tried everything first..I was in tears..the moment I got out of my car they took my two healthy cats in a cart n took them out back n imediatly euthed them n I had to pay $150 each cat..I was horrified my cats were well vetted n healthy .I went to a peaceful protest on a Saturday they always had free adoptions rescues n ppl there to take as many pets as they could we were off property Grady shut the AC down completely that day n pets that could of been pulled n save no doubtable ended up dead .I hate Polk Co AC n all involved ,don’t like Grady for this alone!! FACTS!!
Was a wellness check by Sheriff Judd for editor of Lakeland Gazette conducted under the guise of concern for his well being or blatant intimidation by Sheriff Judd as many articles in Lakeland Gazette have exposed Sheriff Judd as an incompetent leader with no concern for animal welfare nor horrible conditions @ shelter. Sheriff Judd rules with an iron fist!! Write about conditions at shelter & perhas you could expect a wellness check!!
Please email 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗱, 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿, 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘁, and 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗮𝘀. 📩
Please respectfully—but firmly—request updates on the outcomes of recent cruelty cases. ⚖️
Because what’s happening is not “just animal stuff.”
It is a warning sign. 🚨
𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 🩸
Research has repeatedly shown a strong link between domestic violence and animal abuse—and the FBI has recognized this connection as a serious red flag tied to broader violence in our communities. 🧠📌
When cruelty is ignored, it doesn’t disappear.
It grows. It spreads. It escalates. 📈
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:
Were these abusers arrested? 🚔
Were charges filed? 📄
Were these cases prosecuted? ⚖️
Or did they quietly disappear? 🕳️
𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹.
Silence is how cruelty becomes normalized. 🧊
📩 EMAILS:
• Gordon Scherer — [email protected]
• Dezaray Quetot — [email protected]
• Sheriff Grady Judd — [email protected]
• State Attorney Brian Haas — bhaas@sao10.
Why has no action been taken against Sherriff Grady Judd???? Everyone thinks he so great, yes he has worked hard to clean up the streets from drugs. But what about Animal Control violations? It is completely unacceptable that over 7 months there have been complaints, video taken of conditions and nothing being done. So, Grady Judd is above the law??? If it were up to Judd he would probably start euthanizing people in his jail. The public demands, answers and conditions upgraded. NOW MR. JUDD
He needs to work harder. Or turn the job over to a younger man.