{"id":57506,"date":"2025-08-26T16:30:48","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T20:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=57506"},"modified":"2025-08-26T16:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T20:47:58","slug":"letter-to-the-editor-dear-polk-county-board-of-commissioners-community-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/08\/26\/letter-to-the-editor-dear-polk-county-board-of-commissioners-community-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter to the Editor: Dear Polk County Board of Commissioners Community Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dear Polk County Board of Commissioners,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am writing to you once again, as a Polk County resident, taxpayer, PCBP\/SPCA volunteer\/foster, PCAC\/PCBP\/SPCA adopter.&nbsp; My last correspondence dated June 17, 2025, went unanswered by any of our elected officials.&nbsp; Additionally, separate correspondence to Ms. Troutman has also been ignored.&nbsp; The only response I have received to date was from the media.&nbsp; I have taken note of your responses in the BoCC meetings, declaring you have no willingness to take these matters seriously, let alone take any action.&nbsp; To be clear, no matter how much you may wish it to be so, this issue is not going to go away, and burying heads in the sand is not an effective way of managing community problems, addressing concerns of your constituents, or saving taxpayers&#8217; money.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n        \n        <div class=\"embedpress-gutenberg-wrapper source-provider-Youtube aligncenter ep-clear   ep-content-protection-disabled inline\" id=\"cdbb85e6-d44e-4ee6-90ca-e67743222f2e\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube \">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper \">\n                <div id=\"ep-gutenberg-content-8ab68fea5d85006997fe7d9846ea0a68\" class=\"ep-gutenberg-content\">\n                    <div >\n                        <div class=\"ep-embed-content-wraper preset-default insta-grid ep-google-photos-carousel\"\n                            style=\"max-width:600px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"                                                                                                                >\n\n                            <div class=\"ose-youtube ose-uid-c88da14c01d4b99b47b8e62d37b17c20 ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:340px; max-height:340px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" title=\"Commissioner Braswell Gets Heated and Misinforms the Public: June 3, 2025\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B8AnqEQ_RMA?feature=oembed&#038;color=red&#038;rel=1&#038;controls=2&#038;start=true&#038;end=true&#038;fs=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;mute=1&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;playsinline=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media;accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;gyroscope;picture-in-picture clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"Letter to the Editor: Dear Polk County Board of Commissioners Community Cats\"><\/iframe><\/div>                        <\/div>\n\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The continued mismanagement of Polk County Animal Control constitutes a public and animal welfare crisis that violates both legal and ethical standards. As of 2025, 11 media articles\u00b9&nbsp;&nbsp;have reported serious issues within the shelter, and commissioners have repeatedly heard public testimony calling for actionable reforms, including basic ordinances implemented successfully in every surrounding county. Residents have traveled hours to attend BOCC meetings on 06\/03\/2025, 07\/15\/2025, and 08\/02\/2025, and state representatives provided input on 08\/12\/2025. Yet critical preemption under Florida law\u2014F.S. 823.15\u2014remains unaddressed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Legislature has determined that uncontrolled breeding results in unwanted animals suffering, being impounded and destroyed at great expense, 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 reduced euthanasia rates for animals in shelters and animal control agencies is crucial to this effort.<\/p>\n\n\n        \n        <div class=\"embedpress-gutenberg-wrapper source-provider-Youtube aligncenter ep-clear   ep-content-protection-disabled inline\" id=\"cb10d278-5cfc-44d1-b861-7bf32e0f83d6\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube \">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper \">\n                <div id=\"ep-gutenberg-content-c38905b6d4bcaa2fbb41cc1b5785d609\" class=\"ep-gutenberg-content\">\n                    <div >\n                        <div class=\"ep-embed-content-wraper preset-default insta-grid ep-google-photos-carousel\"\n                            style=\"max-width:600px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"                                                                                                                >\n\n                            <div class=\"ose-youtube ose-uid-78a19611bb0b8465f0d93c83c4709ccc ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:340px; max-height:340px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" title=\"Eve Salimbene of Street Cat Project of Polk County @ Legislative Delegation meeting August 12, 2025\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ppBK-U9wslQ?feature=oembed&#038;color=red&#038;rel=1&#038;controls=2&#038;start=true&#038;end=true&#038;fs=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;mute=1&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;playsinline=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media;accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;gyroscope;picture-in-picture clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"Letter to the Editor: Dear Polk County Board of Commissioners Community Cats\"><\/iframe><\/div>                        <\/div>\n\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polk County is failing to meet state-mandated animal welfare standards. According to 2024 University of Florida shelter data, Polk County is Florida&#8217;s #1 kill shelter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cats (strays): 6,968 intake \u2192 3,552 killed (51%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dogs (strays): 4,403 intake \u2192 1,742 euthanized (39.6%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional losses: 400 animals died under shelter care, 561 went missing or escaped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The board&#8217;s duty to act is reinforced by Florida legal precedent. In Orange County v. Singh, 268 So.3d 668 (2019), the Supreme Court held that local charter provisions cannot override state law. Following this decision, the Florida Department of State, in a letter dated August 4, 2023, directed the Polk County Supervisor of Elections to hold partisan elections in accordance with section 99.061, Florida Statutes. By analogy, Polk County must preempt and enforce F.S. 823.15, ensuring that local practices do not undermine state-mandated protections for animals. Continued inaction directly undermines these protections and exposes the county to legal and public accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n        \n        <div class=\"embedpress-gutenberg-wrapper source-provider-Youtube aligncenter ep-clear   ep-content-protection-disabled inline\" id=\"d37cba2e-2e2a-4cf8-b326-533b7c4571b1\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube \">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper \">\n                <div id=\"ep-gutenberg-content-9800ced6e60aa67eb1fdc485f0cb9833\" class=\"ep-gutenberg-content\">\n                    <div >\n                        <div class=\"ep-embed-content-wraper preset-default insta-grid ep-google-photos-carousel\"\n                            style=\"max-width:600px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"                                                                                                                >\n\n                            <div class=\"ose-youtube ose-uid-400a2765846c1306da99d663fe2e7dc6 ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:340px; max-height:340px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" title=\"Dr. Robert Weedon: July 15, 2025 @ Polk County Commissioner Meeting\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mfMiuJ_aCbI?feature=oembed&#038;color=red&#038;rel=1&#038;controls=2&#038;start=true&#038;end=true&#038;fs=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;mute=1&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;playsinline=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media;accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;gyroscope;picture-in-picture clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"Letter to the Editor: Dear Polk County Board of Commissioners Community Cats\"><\/iframe><\/div>                        <\/div>\n\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be clear, the board and its members are not personally responsible for neglect, but the following ongoing issues persist under county oversight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Euthanizing 1,622 animals in the first 103 days of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Losing 567 cats and selling 1,037 cat cadavers to Biology Products in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Violating F.S. 823.15 by misrepresenting adoptions and rescue transfers to inflate statistics. Additionally, Animal Control has overstepped by instructing residents to stop feeding outdoor cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Following the 2024 news exposing abuse, the shelter banned cameras, further limiting transparency. Photography can mean the difference between life and death for animals awaiting adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The newest changes, such as moving fences to give the appearance of a &#8220;maximum security facility,&#8221; do not address real needs\u2014this is an open facility where transparency is critical. Banning phones and photography only shields the lack of oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Placement of a &#8220;Dangerous Dog&#8221; sign at the shelter entrance discourages the public from entering. Even Rep. Judson Sapp (R-Clay County) stated the intent of his law was to &#8220;post signage on the dog&#8217;s enclosure to inform potential adopters that the dog has been declared dangerous.&#8221; Polk County&#8217;s use of the warning sign does not fit the intent of this law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Poor care conditions, including feeding moldy food, delaying volunteer applications for 6\u20139 months, and stacking vulnerable post-op animals with hyperactive ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blocking grants for spay\/neuter programs and rejecting $20 million in private funding for a new facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Obstructing public records requests (F.S. 119) and misrepresenting partnerships with animal welfare organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The board must implement enforceable policies that address the crisis, particularly considering that Polk County Animal Control has directly contributed to the overpopulation problem by allowing 1,785 cats to escape over 4\u00bd years, creating approximately 11,000 additional free-roaming cats. These policies must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Preempt and comply with state law (F.S. 823.15)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regulate who can sell pets and how (vaccinated, neutered, microchipped)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Control outdoor cat populations via humane Trap-Neuter-Release programs, exempting ear-tipped cats from unnecessary retrapping<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reduce euthanasia<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Protect animals in county care<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Continued inaction, despite repeated public testimony and extensive media coverage, is no longer acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Respectfully,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nicole OdellPolk County Resident, Voter, PCAC Adopter, and Volunteer\/Foster for SPCA and PCBP<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Email Distribution List<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To: Polk County Commissioners and County Attorney<\/strong><br>District 1 \u2013 Becky Troutman:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:BeckyTroutman@polk-county.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BeckyTroutman@polk-county.net<\/a><br>District 2 \u2013 Rick Wilson:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:RickWilson@polk-county.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RickWilson@polk-county.net<\/a><br>District 3 \u2013 Bill Braswell:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:BillBraswell@polk-county.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BillBraswell@polk-county.net<\/a><br>District 4 \u2013 Martha Santiago:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:MarthaSantiago@polk-county.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MarthaSantiago@polk-county.net<\/a><br>District 5 \u2013 Michael Scott:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:MichaelScott@polk-county.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MichaelScott@polk-county.net<\/a><br>County Attorney \u2013 Randy Mink:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:RandyMink@polk-county.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RandyMink@polk-county.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CC \u2013 State-Level Officials<\/strong><br>Governor Ron DeSantis:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:GovernorRon.DeSantis@eog.myflorida.com\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GovernorRon.DeSantis@eog.myflorida.com<\/a><br>Florida Attorney General \u2013 James Uthmeier:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Press@MyFloridaLegal.com\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Press@MyFloridaLegal.com<\/a><br>State Attorney \u2013 Brian Haas:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:bhaas@sao10.com\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">bhaas@sao10.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CC \u2013 Legislators<\/strong><br>Senator Ben Albritton:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Albritton.Ben.Web@flsenate.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Albritton.Ben.Web@flsenate.gov<\/a><br>Senator Colleen Burton:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Burton.Colleen.Web@flsenate.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Burton.Colleen.Web@flsenate.gov<\/a><br>Representative Jennifer Canady:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Jennifer.Canady@myfloridahouse.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer.Canady@myfloridahouse.gov<\/a><br>Representative Jennifer Kincart Jonsson:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Jennifer.KincartJonsson@flhouse.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer.KincartJonsson@flhouse.gov<\/a><br>Representative Josie Tomkow:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Josie.Tomkow@flhouse.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Josie.Tomkow@flhouse.gov<\/a><br>Representative Jon Albert:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Jon.Albert@flhouse.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jon.Albert@flhouse.gov<\/a><br>Representative Judson Sapp:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Judson.Sapp@flhouse.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Judson.Sapp@flhouse.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CC \u2013 County-Level Officials<\/strong><br>Polk County BOCC General Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Commissioners@polk-county.net\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Commissioners@polk-county.net<\/a><br>County Manager \u2013 Bill Beasley:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:BillBeasley@polk-county.net\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BillBeasley@polk-county.net<\/a><br>Clerk of the Circuit Court &amp; Comptroller \u2013 Stacy M. Butterfield, CPA:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:StacyButterfield@polk-county.net\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">StacyButterfield@polk-county.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CC \u2013 Sheriff&#8217;s Office<\/strong><br>Sheriff Grady Judd:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:GJudd@polksheriff.org\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GJudd@polksheriff.org<\/a><br>General Contact \u2013 PCSO:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:PCSO@polksheriff.org\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PCSO@polksheriff.org<\/a><br>Director of Communications \u2013 Scott Wilder:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:SWilder@polksheriff.org\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SWilder@polksheriff.org<\/a><br>Animal Control Director \u2013 Gordon Scherer:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:GScherer@polksheriff.org\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GScherer@polksheriff.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CC \u2013 Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Robert Anderson (Lakeland Gazette) <a href=\"mailto:Lakelandgazette@gmail.com\" class=\"ek-link\">Lakelandgazette@gmail.com<\/a> <br>Chad Mills (ABC Action News):&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:CMills@abcactionnews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CMills@abcactionnews.com<\/a><br>Wendy Ryan (WFTS Tampa Bay):&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Wendy.Ryan@wfts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wendy.Ryan@wfts.com<\/a><br>Carla Bayron (FOX 13 Tampa):&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Carla.Bayron@fox.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Carla.Bayron@fox.com<\/a><br>Paul Nutcher (The Ledger):&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:PNutcher@gannett.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PNutcher@gannett.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u00b9 Media coverage includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lakeland Gazette has done more than 50 articles and letters to the editor since 2022<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lakelandgazette.info\" class=\"ek-link\">lakelandgazette.info <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>08\/20\/2025, Tampa Bay<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.tampabay28.com\/news\/region-polk\/bad-dog-sign-at-polk-county-shelter-sparks-anger-from-animal-advocates\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.tampabay28.com\/news\/region-polk\/bad-dog-sign-at-polk-county-shelter-sparks-anger-from-animal-advocates<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>08\/17\/2025, The Ledger<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/opinion\/letters\/2025\/08\/17\/do-something-about-polk-county-animal-control-voice-aug-17-2025\/85658102007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/opinion\/letters\/2025\/08\/17\/do-something-about-polk-county-animal-control-voice-aug-17-2025\/85658102007\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>08\/14\/2025, The Ledger<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/local\/2025\/08\/14\/animal-welfare-funding-pleas-highlight-polk-legislators-meeting\/85614785007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/local\/2025\/08\/14\/animal-welfare-funding-pleas-highlight-polk-legislators-meeting\/85614785007\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>08\/08\/2025, The Ledger<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/08\/08\/advocates-continue-pressure-on-polk-commission-for-spay-neuter-program\/85508168007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/08\/08\/advocates-continue-pressure-on-polk-commission-for-spay-neuter-program\/85508168007\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>07\/15\/2025, ABC<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/news\/region-polk\/polk-county-animal-advocates-demand-urgent-action-on-pet-overpopulation-crisis\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/news\/region-polk\/polk-county-animal-advocates-demand-urgent-action-on-pet-overpopulation-crisis<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>07\/11\/2025, ABC<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/news\/region-polk\/advocates-will-yet-again-ask-commissioners-for-change-at-polk-co-animal-control\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/news\/region-polk\/advocates-will-yet-again-ask-commissioners-for-change-at-polk-co-animal-control<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>06\/04\/2025, The Ledger<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/06\/06\/advocates-clash-with-polk-commissioners-over-sheriffs-animal-shelter\/84046069007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.theledger.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/06\/06\/advocates-clash-with-polk-commissioners-over-sheriffs-animal-shelter\/84046069007\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>06\/03\/2025, FOX13<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fox13news.com\/news\/animal-welfare-advocates-call-change-amidst-dog-overpopulation-euthanasia-crisis-polk-county\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.fox13news.com\/news\/animal-welfare-advocates-call-change-amidst-dog-overpopulation-euthanasia-crisis-polk-county<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>06\/03\/2025, ABC<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/this-is-a-crisis-advocates-push-polk-county-commissioners-for-change-at-embattled-county-shelter\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/this-is-a-crisis-advocates-push-polk-county-commissioners-for-change-at-embattled-county-shelter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>05\/05\/2025, ABC<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/angered-by-report-about-polk-county-shelter-animal-lovers-start-email-campaign\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/angered-by-report-about-polk-county-shelter-animal-lovers-start-email-campaign<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>04\/29\/2025, ABC<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/news\/region-polk\/so-many-wont-make-it-out-alive-last-year-400-animals-died-polk-county-shelters-care-557-escaped\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">&#8216;So many won\u2019t make it out alive&#8217;: Last year, 401 animals died in Polk County shelter&#8217;s care; 564 escaped<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Polk County Board of Commissioners, I am writing to you once again, as a Polk County resident, taxpayer, PCBP\/SPCA volunteer\/foster, PCAC\/PCBP\/SPCA adopter.&nbsp; My last correspondence dated June 17, 2025,&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":57507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"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,"font":"","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDhcL0NvbW1pc3Npb25lcnMtR3JvdXAud2VicD9maXQ9MTAyNCUyQzUzOCZzc2w9MSIsInR4dCI6IkxldHRlciB0byB0aGUgRWRpdG9yOiBEZWFyIFBvbGsgQ291bnR5IEJvYXJkIG9mIENvbW1pc3Npb25lcnMgQ29tbXVuaXR5IENhdHMiLCJ0ZW1wbGF0ZSI6ImhpZ2h3YXkiLCJmb250IjoiIiwiYmxvZ19pZCI6MTYzMDQwNjYxfQ.SD258BbNMQNybnINywmS28m4y5YOQsZohDAJB-jrk7UMQ"},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":57507,"url":"http:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Commissioners-Group.webp","type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[12055],"class_list":["post-57506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-letters","tag-letter-to-the-editor-dear-polk-county-board-of-commissioners-community-cats"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57506","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=57506"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57511,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57506\/revisions\/57511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}