Norma Thank you for your email. I've copied the Manager, Animal Services Director and our Board. Best Regards Ken [cid:AC_logo-150ppi_b0554e81-2d50-477d-8264-0219cbd8ac34.png]<http://www.alachuacounty.us/Pages/AlachuaCounty.aspx> Ken Cornell County Commissioner Board of County Commissioners 12 SE 1st ST • Gainesville • FL • 32601 352-264-6900 (office) • 352-281-4000 (mobile) [cid:Home2_44a3d51e-b983-4237-8082-72394e0032c7.png]<http://www.alachuacounty.us/Pages/AlachuaCounty.aspx> [cid:fb_logo_150ppi_9dd00851-99d8-4342-8932-10cac01030c6.png] <https://www.facebook.com/AlachuaCounty/> [cid:twitter_150ppi_9c3d56ae-20c9-4509-b852-4aaed5522edd.png] <https://twitter.com/alachuacounty> [cid:insta_150ppi_5be81f1b-b06b-49ca-b309-54edd0545f55.png] <https://www.instagram.com/alachuacounty/> [cid:youtube_150ppi_0da7ed3a-56a8-459c-b04c-ed8dfa1a388a.png] <https://www.youtube.com/user/alachuacounty> [cid:county_news_150ppi_14250fe5-78c3-4aa5-b059-283cc85fd4ea.png] <https://alachuacounty.us/news/Pages/Category.aspx?Category=Community%20Update%20Newsletter> PLEASE NOTE: Florida has a very broad public records law (F.S.119). All e-mails to and from County Officials and County Staff are kept as public records. Your e-mail communications, including your e-mail address, may be disclosed to the public and media at any time. On Mar 28, 2024, at 11:46 AM, Norma Darnell <[log in to unmask]> wrote: CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing via regular mail. Thank you for your assistance this past Saturday March 23, 2024 regarding an abandonment of dogs issue in Hawthorne. An Animal Services Investigator visited the site in Lakeshore Gardens 21203 SE 111 Ave or 21225 SE 111 Ave (some confusion as to actual address) Parcel # shows the 21203 number. Investigator Jessica Cuneo posted a 24 hour Notice of Abandonment. The Investigator was also given the address of the property owner by a neighbor. The Investigator apparently got the attention (somewhat) of the property owner because some people have been out to feed the dogs. However, they just come every 3-4 days! The dogs are let out very briefly when they do come but in the meantime, the dogs (three) are left inside for days at a time. You can only imagine the filth inside the house. The worst part is not knowing how these dogs are getting water. A neighbor has started putting moistened kibble through the small hole in one of the windows. The dogs are frantic and hungry. I do realize they are better off than most dogs that people abandon in that they at least have shelter, however, these dogs are at risk of illness and/or infection by living in that kind of filthy environment. Plus, yesterday the power was cut off to the "home" due to non-payment. I will be following up to see what further action Animal Services can take. With all that said, this particular incident is just the tip of the iceberg as it pertains to the number of dogs that are being abandoned and dumped by their owners in Alachua County. This situation has gotten out of control. I urgently request you and the other Commissioners do more NOW to allocate funds for additional staff AND funds for temporary kennels for these dogs. There also needs to be more community involvement so fosters and adopters can be found. FEMA trailers are used during a disaster; why can't something similar be utilized in this crisis? Alachua County has the land. I cannot attest to how responsive Animal Services has been for those who don't "know someone who can expedite a request' as happened with me (again it is much appreciated), but it should NOT be this way. I have heard from others and your constituents are not getting assistance when they request it because Animal Services is so woefully understaffed for current conditions. Plus I am sure the staff at Animal Services are stressed in having to work in such an environment. This is a crisis that is seemingly being ignored. I do know that there is a new Animal Services building planned for 2025. This is great but it is also too little too late as construction will take at least another year while dogs are dying and being mis-treated each day. Funds need to be allocated NOW to help staff and the animals. Norma Darnell ######################################################################## Access the MARY-ALFORD Home Page and Archives: http://listserv.alachuacounty.us/scripts/wa.exe?A0=MARY-ALFORD Unsubscribe from the MARY-ALFORD List: http://listserv.alachuacounty.us/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MARY-ALFORD ########################################################################