Since Rick Wilson for Polk County Commission took office in 2018, the county’s legally required Animal Shelter reports tell a grim story:
𝟰𝟲,𝟳𝟳𝟵 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗿𝗲. 
That’s not rumor or spin. It’s PCSO paperwork filed under Section 823.15—since Grady Judd manages Polk County Animal Control.
In 2021, ABC Action News reported that Grady Judd’s Polk County AC ranked #𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 — and repeatedly tried to reach the commissioners about possible legislation.
The response from Rick Wilson and the rest of the board—including Bill Braswell and Martha Santiago, who are still sitting on the Commission? Crickets. 
(The dead kind.)
Fast-forward to September 2, 2025. Grady Judd’s shelter still has the state’s highest euthanasia rates.
Wilson’s own words:
“Until the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s staff tells us that new ordinances are needed or that change is needed in running the facility, this board will not take action.”
A 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 who refuses to make laws… until a man who 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 make laws gives him permission.
Only the Commission can pass ordinances. The Sheriff can’t. “Waiting on the Sheriff” is an elected official avoiding responsibility while the death toll rises on his watch.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻. 
This election, Polk deserves a commissioner who’ll actually 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲. 
𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗞𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗡