{"id":62208,"date":"2026-02-05T00:12:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T05:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=62208"},"modified":"2026-02-05T00:12:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T05:12:54","slug":"for-%f0%9d%97%b3%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%bf-%f0%9d%98%80%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%98%83%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bb-%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%98%82%f0%9d%98%81","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/02\/05\/for-%f0%9d%97%b3%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%bf-%f0%9d%98%80%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%98%83%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bb-%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%98%82%f0%9d%98%81\/","title":{"rendered":"For \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff \ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf0\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\ude00, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners has received \ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\ude00\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddfd\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf0 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude06 describing conditions and practices at Sheriff Grady Judd\u2019s Polk County Animal Control"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff \ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf0\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\ude00, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners has received \ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\ude00\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddfd\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf0 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude06\u2014\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf8\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb \ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff \ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5 \ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddd5\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf1\u2019\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfe\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\u2014 describing conditions and practices at Sheriff Grady Judd\u2019s Polk County Animal Control that raise \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf9-\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2, \ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf9, \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff \ud835\ude00\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff\ud835\ude06-\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude00. Despite the volume and sworn nature of this testimony, \ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf4\ud835\uddf3\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf9 \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf0\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf0\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud835\udde3\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf0 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf4\ud835\uddf5\ud835\ude01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Sworn testimony and public records have described:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– ID requirements and photocopying are described as chilling public oversight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Escorted and monitored viewing of animals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Ban on phones and electronics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Lack of comprehensive CCTV coverage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Termination of the volunteer program<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Admonishment of community cat feeders despite no countywide feeding ban<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Rescue gag orders described by many as constitutionally suspect<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud835\uddd9\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude06 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sworn testimony and visitors have described:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Rat and roach infestations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Damaged cages and cots<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Inconsistent access to good and wholesome food and water<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Cats sleeping in litter boxes contaminated with feces<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Dogs are reportedly not receiving regular walks, and catsare housed without enrichment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Testimony describing intracardiac euthanasia as extremely painful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Former animal control officer stating he fainted from heat exposure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shelter is nearly \ud835\udff0\ud835\udfec \ud835\ude06\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf1, open-air, and located \ud835\udff2\ud835\udfec\ud835\udfec \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude01 from a garbage landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud835\udddf\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude04, \ud835\ude00\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf1\ud835\ude00, \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude06<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florida Statute \ud835\udff4\ud835\udfee\ud835\udff4.\ud835\udfed\ud835\udfef defines cruelty to animals to include failing to;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– supply sufficient quantities of good and wholesome food and water,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– confinement without wholesome exercise or change of air, or<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-abandonment of sick or injured animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians\u2019 Guidelines require:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Temperatures between \ud835\udff2\ud835\udff0\u00b0F and \ud835\udff4\ud835\udfec\u00b0F;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Humidity between \ud835\udfef\ud835\udfec% and \ud835\udff3\ud835\udfec%;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– \ud835\udfed\ud835\udfec\u2013\ud835\udfee\ud835\udfec \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddff \ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude05\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf4\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff \ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Florida\u2019s climate, an \ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb-\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddff facility without HVAC cannot reliably meet required temperature, humidity, and ventilation conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud835\udde2\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highest-kill animal facility in the state for more than seven years<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud835\udfee\ud835\udfed\ud835\udfee% increase in cat-cadaver sales over two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud835\udde3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf8 \ud835\uddd6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude06 \ud835\uddd5\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddf3 \ud835\uddd6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude00\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\ude00:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening without meaningful action is no longer neutral. It is becoming complicit with the allegations placed on the public record under oath!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u26a0\ufe0f\"WARNING: Graphic images.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These photos depict severe neglect and injury from recent cases in Polk County. They are shared to illustrate the real-world outcomes discussed above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff \ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf0\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\ude00, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners has received \ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\ude00\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddfd\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf0 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude06\u2014\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf8\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb \ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff \ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5 \ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddd5\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf1\u2019\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfe\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\u2014 describing conditions and practices at… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":62215,"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":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDJcL1NjcmVlbnNob3QtMjAyNi0wMi0wNVQwMDA4NTIuNzk2LndlYnA_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.wlPQvtscYPLXbo5rFlmt6a1x10NNQnBmv2CDdoPYpHgMQ"},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":62215,"url":"http:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-05T000852.796.webp","type":"image\/png"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[14],"tags":[13528,13529],"class_list":["post-62208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-for---","tag-the-polk-county-board-of-county-commissioners"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62208","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=62208"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62216,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62208\/revisions\/62216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}