{"id":56136,"date":"2025-06-06T19:15:52","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T23:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=56136"},"modified":"2025-06-06T19:16:06","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T23:16:06","slug":"letter-to-the-editor-i-refuse-to-remain-silent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/06\/06\/letter-to-the-editor-i-refuse-to-remain-silent\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter to the Editor &#8212;&#8211; I refuse to remain silent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dear Sheriff Grady Judd, Director of Communications Scott Wilder, and Director Gordon Scherer,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR-1024x576.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10222\" style=\"width:555px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR.jpg?resize=2048%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR.jpg?w=2220&amp;ssl=1 2220w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I refuse to remain silent while the people entrusted with protecting the innocent continue to deflect blame onto the very public, they were sworn to serve.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the recent FOX 13 News article dated June 3, 2025\u2014published after dozens of citizens stood before the Polk County Board of County Commissioners begging for changes\u2014a spokesperson for Sheriff Grady Judd once again shifted responsibility to \u201cirresponsible pet owners\u201d for the disgraceful conditions and outcomes at Polk County Animal Control. This same spokesperson said, \u201cif people would adopt more animals,\u201d the crisis could be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This narrative is not just misleading. It\u2019s a blatant denial of the systemic failures at the root of this crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u27a1<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;FOX 13 article:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.fox13news.com\/news\/animal-welfare-advocates-call-change-amidst-dog-overpopulation-euthanasia-crisis-polk-county&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;usd=2&amp;usg=AOvVaw3tLa04JijquIcWOX2dnLcx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/www.fox13news.com\/news\/animal-welfare-advocates-call-change-amidst-dog-overpopulation-euthanasia-crisis-polk-county<\/a><br><strong><\/strong><strong>&nbsp;County meeting testimonies&nbsp;<\/strong>(starts around minute 13):&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.polk-county.tv\/CablecastPublicSite\/show\/7664?site%3D1&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;usd=2&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xyE6rN5OXVWcUxCQO2yWx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/www.polk-county.tv\/CablecastPublicSite\/show\/7664?site=1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s be clear about what these \u201cirresponsible owners\u201d&nbsp;<strong>did not<\/strong>&nbsp;do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They did\u00a0<strong>not<\/strong>\u00a0trample Freedom of Speech by banning cameras from Polk County Animal Control after\u00a0<strong>abuse footage aired in July 2024<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not shelter employees buying dogs from breeders\u2014<strong>like Animal Control Officer Steve Lineman recently did<\/strong>\u2014while\u00a0<strong>thousands of animals die<\/strong>\u00a0behind county doors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>dodging media interviews<\/strong>\u00a0following\u00a0<strong>irrefutable reports of neglect<\/strong>\u00a0at a taxpayer-funded facility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not the ones who euthanized\u00a0<strong>1,622 animals in just the first 103 days of 2025.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They didn\u2019t \u201close\u201d\u00a0<strong>567 cats<\/strong>\u00a0or sell\u00a0<strong>1,037 cat cadavers<\/strong>\u00a0to Biology Products in 2024.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not violating Florida Statute\u00a0<strong>823.15<\/strong>\u00a0by blurring lines between adoptions and rescue transfers to inflate statistics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not responsible for killing\u00a0<strong>5,481 animals in 2024<\/strong>, allowing\u00a0<strong>400+ to die in custody<\/strong>, or\u00a0<strong>567 to escape.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>feeding moldy food<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>hosing animals down inside their cages<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>letting dogs and cats suffer for 10+ days<\/strong>, then\u00a0<strong>pawning off sick and dying pets<\/strong>\u00a0to adopters or rescues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>keeping animals in cages infested with roaches, rats<\/strong>, or with\u00a0<strong>broken doors causing neck injuries<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>logging medications that were never administered<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>ignoring post-surgical protocols<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>delaying volunteer applications for 6\u20139 months<\/strong>, hoping applicants will give up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>stacking vulnerable post-op animals with hyperactive ones<\/strong>, causing fights and injuries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>telling owners \u201cWe\u2019ll hold your dog,\u201d then later reporting it \u201cunexpectedly died.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0(Goodbye, Rigby.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>rejecting offers from Best Friends Animal Society<\/strong>\u00a0to help Polk become a No-Kill shelter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not\u00a0<strong>labeling scared cats as \u201cferal\u201d just to justify killing them<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not rejecting\u00a0<strong>$20 million in private funding<\/strong>\u00a0for a new facility with working air conditioning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not blocking a grant for\u00a0<strong>spay\/neuter vouchers<\/strong>, then blaming the public for overpopulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not obstructing public records requests, in violation of\u00a0<strong>F.S. 119<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not assigning untrained prisoners to care for traumatized, frightened animals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not running\u00a0\u00a0<strong>Florida\u2019s deadliest shelter<\/strong>, per University of Florida statistics\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu\/research\/current-studies\/florida-animal-sheltering\/shelter-level-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu\/research\/current-studies\/florida-animal-sheltering\/shelter-level-data\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not pretending to partner with the SPCA while contributing\u00a0<strong>$0<\/strong>\u00a0and misrepresenting the relationship publicly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, irresponsible pet owners exist. But they exist in&nbsp;<strong>every<\/strong>&nbsp;Florida county. The difference? Other counties manage their shelters with transparency, accountability, and actual leadership\u2014not blame, secrecy, and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The moment those animals crossed into Polk County Animal Control, they became&nbsp;<strong>your<\/strong>&nbsp;responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Stop blaming the public.<br>Start telling the truth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cages in your shelter are not filled with bad owners.<br>They are filled with&nbsp;<strong>animals<\/strong>\u2014desperate, suffering, and dying under your leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We demand answers.<br>We demand change.<br>And we demand it now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vicky Quintanilla<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Sheriff Grady Judd, Director of Communications Scott Wilder, and Director Gordon Scherer, I refuse to remain silent while the people entrusted with protecting the innocent continue to deflect blame&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"11","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyMVwvMDRcL0xFVFRFUi1UTy1USEUtRURJVE9SLmpwZz9maXQ9MTAyNCUyQzU3NiZzc2w9MSIsInR4dCI6IkxldHRlciB0byB0aGUgRWRpdG9yICYjODIxMjsmIzgyMTE7IEkgcmVmdXNlIHRvIHJlbWFpbiBzaWxlbnQiLCJ0ZW1wbGF0ZSI6ImhpZ2h3YXkiLCJibG9nX2lkIjoxNjMwNDA2NjF9.HicaQbQRYUKMUm-rpY1Rn7pq9V7CmuedNrfbqsgRrIMMQ"},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":10222,"url":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[11626],"class_list":["post-56136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-letters","tag-letter-to-the-editor-i-refuse-to-remain-silent"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56136"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56137,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56136\/revisions\/56137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}