𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆

Citizens have asked the BOCC for Animal Control reform since at least 2022 — including 14 meetings since June 2025.

Commissioners redirected responsibility to the Sheriff and his office.

𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: Rick Wilson and Bill Braswell told citizens they needed to talk to their Sheriff.

But the Sheriff doesn’t attend these meetings. Did he meet with Best Friends or the billionaire donor in person?

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, Wilson said:

“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.”

Then on 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, Braswell said:

“For the next two and a half years, I will do everything I can to make sure you guys get nothing—not a dime of county money, not any assistance… I’ll advocate that my fellow commissioners do the same thing.”

Since Captain Varnadore took over in March, long-requested changes have begun.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗱.

Captain Varnadore can join us at BOCC meetings and, as the Sheriff’s staff, put those requests in writing:

𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. Fund spay/neuter vouchers. Secure the resources needed to stop funneling animals into a subpar facility and prevention ordinances aligning with FL 823.15 to reduce birth and euthanasia.

Then let all five commissioners answer publicly.

𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗦 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲.