Urgent: Polk Animal Shelter Faces Outcry Over High Euthanasia Rates

UPDATE: Urgent concerns are mounting over the Polk County Animal Control shelter following shocking allegations of mismanagement and high euthanasia rates. Advocates are demanding immediate action after reports reveal that the shelter has the highest euthanasia rate in Florida, with 3,561 cats and 1,741 dogs euthanized in just 2024.

Nicole Odell’s experience with her adopted puppy, Anya, highlights the dire conditions at the shelter. After adopting Anya, a German shepherd/husky mix, Odell found the puppy bleeding and suffering from a serious infection. “It’s hard for me to understand how she could be there for so long and be so sick,” Odell said. Her account is just one of many that paint a grim picture of the shelter’s operations.

Animal rights activists have voiced their concerns during Polk County Commission meetings, but county officials refuse to take control from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which manages the facility. The shelter’s non-live rate—animals either euthanized, dying, or reported missing—stands at nearly 8 animals per 1,000 residents, dwarfing the rates in neighboring Orange and Hillsborough counties, which are less than 1 animal per 1,000 residents.

Vicky Quintanilla, an animal rights advocate, shared her frustration: “There is something really wrong here.” She criticized the recent decision by the Polk sheriff’s office to end its volunteer program and ban cell phones in the kennels, making it difficult for advocates to document conditions.

During a recent visit, an Orlando Sentinel reporter witnessed the poor state of the facilities. Visitors are met with a cheerful photo of Sheriff Grady Judd, but behind this facade lies a reality of broken kennels and insufficient care. Many dogs were seen sleeping on damaged cots, while some cats had visible injuries and unsanitary living conditions.

Latest data from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine reveals that the Polk shelter’s euthanasia numbers far exceed those of better-managed shelters. In 2024, the Polk shelter had a staggering rate of animal deaths and disappearances, raising alarms among animal welfare advocates.

Julie Levy, a professor at the University of Florida, emphasized the lack of state oversight for animal shelters in Florida. This opens the door for potential abuses and neglect, as many shelters rely heavily on volunteers for essential tasks, often documenting conditions through photographs that could aid in promoting adoptions.

Quintanilla and fellow advocates have gathered support for necessary reforms, but their proposals have been largely ignored by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. They argue that Sheriff Judd lacks transparency and accountability in his management of the shelter.

Eve Salimbene, a former manager at a neighboring shelter, expressed concern over outdated euthanasia methods being used at Polk. “If you’re going to kill 400 animals a month, there are not enough hours in the day that you would have time to anesthetize prior,” she revealed. This raises ethical questions about the treatment of animals in the facility.

Bob Weedon, a respected veterinarian, has urged the Polk commissioners to adopt humane practices such as trap-neuter-return policies for stray cats. However, his proposals have been met with resistance, as county officials defer to the sheriff’s jurisdiction.

After her traumatic experience at the shelter, Odell’s puppy Anya eventually received medical treatment and is now thriving in Pennsylvania. “I just wanted her to have a shot at a good home and a good life,” Odell said, reflecting on the challenges faced by animals in the Polk shelter.

As the outcry intensifies, animal rights advocates are calling for immediate reforms to address the troubling practices at Polk County Animal Control. The public is urged to stay informed and advocate for change to ensure a safer and more humane environment for vulnerable animals.

For those concerned about the welfare of animals in Polk County, the time to act is now. Join the fight for reform and demand accountability from local officials to ensure that no more animals suffer in silence.