AS-20-0036

Published agenda

Heard once, at the Board of County Commissioners on Sep 8, 2020.

OutcomeAdopted by the Board of County Commissioners on Sep 8, 2020

Approved to adopt by roll call vote.

Official title

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE PASCO COUNTY CODE RELATING TO ANIMALS; RESTRICTIONS ON THE RETAIL SALE OF DOGS AND CATS; PROVIDING FOR APPLICABILITY; REPEALER; SEVERABILITY; INCLUSION INTO THE CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMISSION OF ORDINANCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE

Every appearance1 of 1 are in a recording

TranscriptWhat was said at each appearance is below it. Machine transcription, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 81% of 164 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.

1Sep 8, 2020
Board of County CommissionersP1Public hearingAdopted
Approved minutes
Approved to adopt by roll call vote.
Open this item →
37m
Jack Mariano
Okay. So we'll go ahead and move forward with our public hearing agenda starting with P1 ordinance. Madam Clerk, do we have proof for item P one?
Sure.
Ron Oakley
Okay, item P one was published in the Pen Bay Times on August twelfth, twenty twenty.
Mike Moore
Mr. Shum. Good afternoon, Commissioners. Mike Shumate, Director of Animal Services Department for Pasco County. P1 is an ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, amending Chapter 14. of the Pasco County Code relating to animals, restricting the retail sale of dogs and cats, providing for applicability, repealer, severability, inclusion into the code of ordinances, providing for transmission of ordinance to the Department of State, and providing for an effective date. On
August fourth. Uh we introduced this uh proposed um ordinance amendment to restrict the sale of dogs and cats Um the board Uh unanimously approved it for public hearing today. Um What we'd like to address right now is the fact that over the course of the last few weeks, I know that you've received a lot of emails concerning the adoption-based business model. That's part of the ordinance. There's been uh some concern
about loopholes in that. So we want to make sure you understand that uh given the definitions that we have for animal rescue organizations. Um we think that that will sufficiently uh prevent the loopholes. Um we also like to think that we've done enough uh research into what we're actually presenting. Yeah, so that we could actually enforce it. To monitor any rescue organizations that come into our county through
the retail sales at pet stores. As you know, most of the pet stores that we have in the county already sort of follow the adoption-based business model. Where they don't Receive any
The sale of dogs or cats. They're primarily focused in the business of pet services and pet supplies. and they also collaborate with animal shelters. Animal rescue organizations to give them space in their facilities to adopt out those homeless pets throughout the county. And this is primarily what the adoption based business model represents.
So the department's recommendation is to accept public comment, adopt the proposed ordinance by roll call vote, authorize the chairman. to execute the ordinance amendment and direct Board Records to retain the original and file an electronic copy copy of the ordinance with the Florida Department of State within ten business days after The adoption of the ordinance. Thank
Jack Mariano
you, Mr. Shumay. Um does anybody have any questions before I go to public comment? Or would you like to hear public comment first? Commissioner Weightman
Jack Mariano
if if we've got a specific breeder that's been breeding dogs, though this is not preventing them from carrying on the business model, correct?
Mike Moore
No, we do have an exemption in the ordinance as well. That's correct.
Jack Mariano
Thank you.
Jack Mariano
And I'll just refer back to if you remember a couple of years ago. And in the clerk's office handles this. We do have the uh abuse registry too. This is a reminder, just a reminder to the public, since this is coming up today that we did um work on that, I think it's been what almost three years ago now, if I'm not correct. And the clerk's office has done a great job obviously of handling that abuse registry. I want to make sure people the public does know and remind them that the abuse registry is out there. So you can obviously go on the clerk's website.
Um and it says State's animal abuser registry search. And you can search through that too. So if you have any cares or concerns about any individuals, please do utilize that registry and look up those individuals. I would uh Mr. Chairman Mariano,
your office obviously would go through those before prior to during the adoption process, and I would assume a lot of the other um rescues do as well.
Mike Moore
Right. They're required by the ordinance to check that registry. industry before they adopt out anything. Okay to any one. Great. Commissioner Mariano.
Jack Mariano
Yeah. When we adopted years ago that ninety percent adoption rate, what what's percentage we're up to now?
Mike Moore
Um well believe it or not, we historically hit a ninety-six percent save rate for cats last month, but right now we're at ninety-three percent for the year.
Jack Mariano
Doing a phenomenal job, thank you. Great job.
Mike Moore
Thank you.
Jack Mariano
Great job. Yeah, congratulations. Thank you. So and I have a special guest too I wanted to present, but we'll wait for the special guest after we have public comment. So uh Madam Clerk, um let's go ago let's go with um the WebEx first. Do we have anybody that's in Q? Um to speak on this item P one.
Ron Oakley
For item P one, um I do have a list of eleven individuals who pre-registered. The first uh person on the list is Pamela Hilts.
Pamela Hiltz
Hello, can you hear me?
Mike Moore
Yes.
Pamela Hiltz
Okay. I wasn't sure if I was unmuted. My name is Pamela Hiltz. My address is [address removed]. And um I want to just thank you very much for um We'll take time to listen to comments. And also for supporting this ordinance. I think it's an amazing ordinance. I'm very, very happy to see you guys are working on it. I've been volunteering with different animal shelters in um for probably at least maybe seven, eight years now in various states. And um this is just very exciting
to see this happening. Um what I did want to say though is I'm a little concerned about the fact that there's a kind of a grandfather clause in this thing that allows existing retailers to continue selling um Pets through their store. And I'm just wondering if maybe you guys had considered putting some sort of an end date to that exemption for existing retailers. I know on Royal Palm Beach, they had an 18-month period in order to let people transition into everybody being under the same type of rules.
And Hillsborough gave 12 months for everybody to get. In line with the new rules. I know their stuff comes into effect in March. There's 70 counties and cities in the state of Florida that currently have this type of legislation, and there's only five of them that have any kind of grandfathering clause. So I just really like you guys to think about: is there a way to put an end date to the grandfather provision? But other than that, I think it's an amazing ordinance. I'm very, very happy to see you. is working on this and I think ASCO is really a trailblazer.
Thank you.
Jack Mariano
Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate it.
Ron Oakley
All right, the second person um signed up for WebEx is Sybil Albus.
Jack Mariano
Ms. Albus?
Unidentified speakerVoice A
I'm sorry, Ms. Elvis is not on the line.
Jack Mariano
Okay, next.
Ron Oakley
And then we have Talani McNeely.
Jack Mariano
Ms.
Unidentified speakerVoice A
McNeely is not on the line.
Jack Mariano
Okay.
Ron Oakley
Okay. Deborah Shippy.
Unidentified speakerVoice A
Ms. Shippy? Ms. Shippy is not on the line. Okay.
Ron Oakley
Okay. Uh Amanda Bush.
Jack Mariano
Ms. Bush?
Ron Oakley
Mm-hmm. Yes, I'm
Unidentified speakerVoice B
here. Can you
Jack Mariano
hear me? Yes, ma'am. Name and address for the record, Ms. Bush.
Unidentified speakerVoice B
Oh yes, it's Amanda Bush.
Jack Mariano
And your address please.
Unidentified speakerVoice B
Address is two one two four West Brandon Boulevard in Hillsborough County.
Jack Mariano
Thank you.
You may go ahead.
Unidentified speakerVoice B
Is it okay to start?
Jack Mariano
You can proceed. We can hear you fine.
Unidentified speakerVoice B
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman Mr. Vice Chairman and Commissioners. I'm here today to encourage a dialogue between your county and small business, and I thank you for your time. Small businesses are the heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears of the families that started them. They are the backbones to communities. They are the dreams come tr they are dreams come true, and they are the futures of generations to come. My family started one of these small businesses all about puppies 25 years ago, and we now have three generations of my family working within
them. We are educated about what we do, we are honest about what we do, and we are extremely committed to educating state, county, and city officials, as well as citizens, as to why bands such as the one in front of you today cannot and should not be the answer when trying to advocate for animals. My family and I are animal advocates. We are not the ones that hold up hate signs and say horrible things about people we have never met. We are not the ones that make assumptions and put them out to the media, politicians, and citizens as truth. We are not
the ones that look for information that only fits the narrative we want to see. We understand the concerns, we understand the need for transparency, and we understand that our passion and what we do is not fully understood or appreciated. That is why we have been putting ourselves out there to educate. Nothing is changing with these bands, not a thing. The change is happening behind the scenes when stores like the ones my family operates seeks to find people that hold themselves to as high of a standard as we hold them to. The ones that are animal advocates
and place great care and concern for the animals in their care. These relationships take time, effort, and great care to begin and to sustain. And we have been building these relationships for years, even decades. It is unfortunate we live in a society where we have to even think about people harming each other or animals, but it is a sad truth. I do not think anyone watching this meeting today condones this harsh reality, and yet one of the negative consequences of BAN's in any regard. is the knowledge
that by taking something away can ultimately mean you put something worse in its place. There are a lot of worse things out there when it comes to caring for animals than licensed inspected breeders and regulated pet stores. Some examples were emailed to you earlier today so that you can begin to understand the complexity of this issue. Bans are absolute. They should only be voted on when no other viable option exists. Is that the case here? Are no other options available? I know with
100% certainty that other options do exist. And I know this through research, through decades of seeing how this industry has improved. I know this through the relationships my family and I have built. I know this because I live this. And my family lives this. All you are accomplishing by passing a ban is limiting consumer choice, keeping
Jack Mariano
Yeah. Okay, Madam Clerk. What we have next?
Ron Oakley
Um Alexandra Julian.
Jack Mariano
Is Mr. Julian on the line?
Ron Oakley
Yes, I'm
Unidentified speakerVoice C
here.
Jack Mariano
Hi. Um name and address. Yes, ma'am, we can hear you fine. Okay.
Unidentified speakerVoice C
2124 West Brandon Boulevard. My family owns and operates the three All About Puppy stores in Hillsborough and in Pinellas Counties. You just heard from my sister Amanda this a minute a moment ago. Our family expressed interest in bringing our small business into your community. However, please do not mistake this as being the only reason for our attendance today. Through years of research and networking with various pet professionals and animal advocates, we have gained the knowledge and perspective needed on this topic. In the last four years, we have assisted
local officials in multiple communities, aided in drafting of ordinances that prioritize. Animal welfare, consumer protection, as well as preservation of small businesses and responsible breeders. I personally have visited many professional breeders affiliated with pet stores, all of which exceed the regulations within Pasco and surrounding counties regulations. There's not only federal oversight on breeders through USDA inspections, but additionally heightened breeder standards at many state levels. Currently, Florida
is not one of them. Having a better understanding of what laws are in place will help you understand the degree to which pet retail sale bans are flawed. This knowledge base is essential before you can tackle such intricate topics. We provide a service that allows us, the professionals in this industry, to vet the breeders that we work with, provide transparency to the consumers as to where their puppy was raised. We warranty our animals for infectious and hereditary illness, and we follow strict vaccine protocols to ensure every animal and owner is protected. Having regulated
pets for us in communities provides a safety net. We are the security that citizens and future pets need and deserve. We play a vital role in the solution to ending substandard breeding practices. We, along with our breeders and advocates across the country, have been working tirelessly for decades understanding issues that are at hand and working to create solutions. In many communities, advocates and pet professionals work together to create rules that don't prevent small business owners from enriching the community, but further protecting animals and the people within it. A
few examples would be Palm Beach, Collier, Manatee, Blabard, Tawnies. I say Saul the best decision was made by asking the right questions and understanding the consequence of knee jerk reactions. Have we had the round table discussion to decide what issues our community's animals are facing? Have we done the research? Have we put in the work? We have Have we done enough to say at the end of this that passing this ordinance made a difference? We are here to do just that, to create the dialogue and bring the community's animal advocates
together, to hopefully create a stronger alternative and in turn a better environment for the animals. If for any reason this changes your opinions on how you were going to vote and you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us because we would love to help in any way that we can. That's all I have to say. Thank you guys.
Jack Mariano
Thank you so much, Mm. Um who's next please?
Ron Oakley
Jenna Jensen.
Jack Mariano
Ms. Jensen. Is Ms. Jensen on the line?
Ron Oakley
Hey,
Jenna Jensen
can you all hear me?
Jack Mariano
Yes, ma'am, we can. Name and address for the record, please.
Jenna Jensen
All right, my name is Jenna Jensen. Um, I live at [address removed]. Uh, so I work on the Stop Puppy Mills campaign at the Humane Society of the United States. Um, I particularly work on ordinances like the one Pasco County is considering today all over the country. I urge the Commission to pass this item today to help protect residents of the county from the deceptive and cruel puppy mill to pet store pipeline. The proposed ordinance does contain a
grandfather clause that allows the county's existing pet store to continue to sell puppies, which we would prefer was not included. However, the ordinance will prevent the county from expanding its puppy mill market, which is a great step forward. Concerns have also been raised related to the adoption-based business model required for new cat stores and the ability for stores to sell puppy mole puppies through the guise of a rescue. This concern has been addressed by narrowly defining what a legitimate rescue is. This ordinance is needed because puppy selling
pet stores pose numerous problems, and currently there is nothing stopping new, especially problematic stores from opening in Pasco County. HSUS has conducted numerous investigations that reveal pet store puppies come from out-of-state puppy mills with egregious welfare records and are treated terribly in-store. Recent investigations revealed dead animals in freezers, sick puppies denied veterinary care, head store employees concealing the truth about puppies on their sales floor, and more. HSUS has never conducted an investigation
of a puppy selling pet store without finding serious welfare concerns, indicating these problems are industry wide. Pet store puppies are also often sick and end up with behavioral and/or congenital problems because they are derived from puppy mills. They are born into deplorable conditions, they're taken from their mothers very early on, they're placed on semi-trucks with other potentially sick puppies, and are shipped to a faraway pet store where they will likely yet again be in a confined cage with other vulnerable puppies. This truth is reflected
in the constant stream of complaints we receive from consumers. Purchase sick and unhealthy pets from pet stores and a vast I'm from Florida. The Florida the Florida Attorney General recently filed a lawsuit against two pet stores for selling sick puppies, including five that died shortly after purchase. Her press release stated that while this lawsuit may hold two pet stores accountable, it won't solve a larger problem, which is why you all you are all here today considering this ordinance. To top
it all off, puppy selling pet stores have been linked to a disease outbreak of their own. The Centers for Disease Control has issued several advisories warning consumers of the risk of buying pet store puppies and contracting an antibiotic-resistant strain of Campylobacter that has so far infected at least 150 Americans in more than 20 states, hospitalizing dozens. There have also been more than 20 reported cases in Florida, including one teenager who contracted the disease while working at a Florida petland store and is now confined to a wheelchair. The
C D C continues to voice concerns of this outbreak and the reckless antibiotic use of pet stores and their breeders. I urge you all to pass this item today and join the more than forty up seventy.
Jack Mariano
Thank you, ma'am, Ms. Jensen. Uh anybody else?
Ron Oakley
Hera Hiltz.
Jack Mariano
Do we have uh Miss Hilts on the line?
Unidentified speakerVoice D
I'm here. Hear me?
Jack Mariano
Yes, ma'am. Um name and address for the record, please.
Unidentified speakerVoice D
Kiera Hilts, [address removed], agenda P one. First, I'd like to thank the commissioners for their time and for supporting this ordinance because it will reduce the number of homeless pets and the demand for puppy mills. My experience has been working in three different states, Las Vegas, Indiana, and Florida. I've volunteered with over eight different shelters and ran the Instagram accounts of three of those statewide shelters. One of the animals that I have come in contact with is Willie.
He was a puppy mill stud. He was different than all the other animals at that shelter. He was shaking, he was cold, he had never felt human affection. Whenever I was at the shelter, I hugged him. I just pet him the whole entire time, and finally, after four months, he was able to come out of his cage. Willie is not like any other pet. He is loving and he deserves the same respect and attention that other pets that um have never been in puppy mills get. My request is to amend the ordinance and add an end date by
which existing puppies and kitten rail tailors need to comply with the new ordinance. By adding that um existing retailers um transform the Pasco County's commitment and end retail pet stores because this really is a big problem. Hasco County has made great sty strides toward accomplishing this. and is truly an animal welfare trailblazer. Thank you guys again for doing this and please support this ordinance. I'm done.
Jack Mariano
Thank you, Ms. Hells. Madam Clerk.
Ron Oakley
Aerie Reynolds.
Jack Mariano
Do we have uh Terry Reynolds on the line? We do. Name and address for the record, please.
Unidentified speakerVoice E
Terry Reynolds, [address removed]. Thank you first of all for supporting this ordinance because it reduces the number of homeless pets and the demand for puppy mill pets. It's very generous of you to take your time to care enough to solve this problem. I volunteered for over 20 years in two shelters, one in my home state of Indiana, the Humane Society of St. Joe County. And now after moving to Hudson, I volunteer for the Humane Society of Pasco County.
I am of the opinion that we should restrict pet stores from selling puppy mill dogs and cats. Instead, partner with local shelters to seek out puppies and kittens who are brought into the shelters. This would not only benefit the shelter, but it may have the added benefit of rescuing more animals from euthanization and possibly even educate people who adopt the importance of rescue versus overbred and cruelly kept animals. Animals and puppy mills. My kids h live in New Port Richey and they adopted two times two separate
times white schnauzers from a local pet snor store and both had issues. One had a shaking white dog syndrome and the other had severe well, they both had severe skin issues. This is irresponsible puppy mill breeding and needs to stop. It would be nice to partner between the shelter and the pet store to educate people to spay neuter microchip and vaccinations. Why not help the Cure the cruel animal crisis by working with the shelters. Volunteering in those shelters, I have seen the result of raided puppy male puppies and the horrors
of what animals had to endure. Matted fur grown over years, years of being in feces in their fur, deformities, not treated wounds, terrible medical issues, non-treated. And these animals all have behavioral problems, all shaking, all frightened. all in the name of the mighty dollar on the backs of living, feeling creatures of God that we bred be the caretakers of. It's time to take action on this ordinance and give a reasonable time limit to allow Colour. to adjust how
let's get this possible as to not let any further animals suffer. You may have the ability to break ground here and be a true trailblazer and pave the way for other counties to follow suit. I want to thank you once again for your time.
Ron Oakley
That's all.
Jack Mariano
Thank you, Ms. Rollins. Madam Clerk, next person. You say Macwell? Okay. Is that person on the line?
Kate Mcfall
Yes, hi, this is Kate.
Jack Mariano
Hi, how are you? Name and address for the record, please?
Kate Mcfall
Yes, sir, of course. Uh [address removed]. I live in [address removed]. So my name is Kate McFall and I'm the State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. I'm here in North Florida and in my role as state director, I work all over the state and I work to pass animal protection policy legislation on the state level as well as the local levels with city and county leaders. Currently, there's actually 74 ordinances. Improving the retail sale of pets like the one you you all are considering. I mean there
are so many ordinances in Florida as more and more leaders gain a better understanding of the inherent cruelty in puppy mills and puppy selling stores and opt to protect the puppy. And also to protect their local residents from the heartbreak and financial drain that's so often associated with purchasing a pet store puppy. Our goal is never to put anyone out of business, but rather to facilitate a change to a more humane business model, supporting pets for adoption, shelter animals, of course. And they can, you know, instead of Going um
outdated and uh old business model of selling pups, more are going in in the more profitable way of selling supplies and services. The grievances from the puppy selling stores claiming this will put them out of business is false as most stores sell goods and supplies uh that don't sell puppies and do very well. In February of this year, the American Pet Products Association reported that Americans spent a record 95 billion on their pets. I know everybody here who has a pet certainly spends a lot on their animals. I know
I do, that 95 billion on their pets in 2019 with pet food, treats, products, services, on and on. A great example is Super Pet in Tampa that converted from they used to sell commercially bred dogs and cats, but now they work with local shelters and rescues. And they converted because they felt a social responsibility to do so and encourage others to follow suit. Okay. Wolfgang Bakery owners with over a hundred and thirty stores nationwide said to be perfectly clear, the Wolfgang Bakery
Company adamantly opposes the archaic Practice of puppy mill breeding and selling puppy mail dogs. Good pet stores do not sell puppies and responsible pet breeders do not sell to stores. So the future is bright in pet supply sales, and we have a program at the HSUS that supports pet stores who make that transition from the retail sell of pets to a more humane model, promoting pet adoption and supporting their local shelters and rescues. I urge you to support this ordinance today. Thank you so much.
Jack Mariano
Thank you, man. And what we have one more person?
Ron Oakley
Last one.
Jack Mariano
Yeah.
Ron Oakley
Jennifer Hopgood.
Jack Mariano
Hobgood.
Jennifer Hobgood
My name is Jennifer Hobgood. I'm from Tallahassee, Florida. I wanted to check and see if you can hear me.
Jack Mariano
Yes, we can. I need your address too, Ms. Hopkin.
Jennifer Hobgood
my so my work address, because I'm representing our constituents in Pasco County, is PO Box 5741 Tallahassee, Florida, 32314.
Jack Mariano
Great, great. Thank you.
Jennifer Hobgood
Land start now?
Jack Mariano
Yes, ma'am.
Jennifer Hobgood
Okay, so yes, my name is Jennifer Hopgood. I'm Senior Director for the ASPCA's Government Relations Southeast Region. Today I'm speaking on behalf of our Pasco County constituents, and we do appreciate the Commission's consideration of this important issue. Unfortunately, we have to oppose the ordinance as drafted since it still contains, even with the change to the definition of animal rescue group. serious loopholes that we've seen elsewhere that will undermine the intended protections. And simply amending the definition of animal rescue group will not
address the fundamental problems with allowing pet stores to sell dogs or cats they acquire from shelters or rescue groups. Pasco's proposed ordinance appears to be closely modeled on a similarly problematic ordinance adopted in Hillsborough County. So this is not trailblazing, that allows pet stores to sell animals if they get them from shelters or rescue groups. Years ago, animal shelters provided surplus dogs and cats to animal research companies in a practice referred to as pound seizure. Now, this is different, obviously, but public policy that transforms
homeless. Pets into commodities to support private businesses is simply fraught with peril, and that's been documented throughout the country and in Hillsboro. The idea of shelters or rescue groups providing dogs and cats for the purpose of sale at for-profit stores raises ethical and legal questions like: should nonprofits or government agencies be propping up for-profit entities? Does such activity conflict with the shelter's mission or nonprofit status? Smarter Pet Co-Model where
they partner with groups. This is allowing them to sell dogs and cats that they acquire. Hillsborough Retail Sales Law also initially grandfathered existing stores. And almost a year ago today, on September 17th, 2019, ASPCA notified Hillsborough County Administrator documents we received through a public records request indicating that a grandfathered Tampa pet store was shipped on the Multiple times over a five-month period in 2019 by an out-of-state breeder with documented USDA violations. This was a random catch
by ASPCA that demonstrates the steep local enforcement challenges to such a law that allows pet stores to sell puppies from specified sources. So instead, we urge you to unequivocally prohibit all retail sales of dogs and cats while making clear that stores can partner with shelters and rescue brewers. And make space for legitimate shelters or humane organizations to showcase their homeless pets for adoption. This could be a tale of two counties where Pasco prevents the myriad problems we're now seeing emerge with these what we call dirty laws throughout
the country and instead adopts a clean, straightforward law that can be effectively enforced while promoting sound humane adoption partnerships with retail stores. Thank you for your consideration of our. views. We appreciate it.
Jack Mariano
Thank you, ma'am. So we don't have n I do not have anybody else if I'm not correct in the queue for WebEx.
Ron Oakley
That is
Jenna Jensen
correct.
Jack Mariano
Okay. Do we have anybody at the kiosk wishing wishing to speak to the board?
Jenna Jensen
There is no one at the kiosk right now.
Jack Mariano
That'll be the kiosk. Now we do have a number of emails that are don't need to be read into the record but are going to be filed.
Ron Oakley
That's correct. There's 118 emails that will be put into the record.
Jack Mariano
Okay. 118 emails for the record. Okay. Great. Thank you. So Mr. Schumate, I guess we'll invite you back up since we're done with public comment. So I I brought I brought a friend today myself, so I'm gonna I'm gonna stand up for a second. So so this is this is little Jojo. It's his nickname, Jojo. But he uh so he's a rescue dog. And he was originally, if I'm not correct, came to Pasco County Administrator, and then Animal Lovers Dream
Rescue actually goes to a lot of the shelters and they will basically foster the dogs that are medically needy. So if you see Jojo here, he was born, he's got what we call a little lobster call here, but he has no leg care. So and he's yawning now 'cause he's been sleeping on me. But uh he's yeah obviously he's adorable. He's a great little guy. We also adopted another one, his name's Scrappy Doo. Very similar situation from Animal Lovers Dream Rescue and and he came um
through I think the Humane Society, I think that was actually out of Hillsbroke County, similar situation. He was um Thankfully this guy was turned in by the breeder.
Um let's just be honest, he's deformed. Um Scrappy was unfortunately, I guess you could say, tossed in the garbage. And I don't know the whole story because I wasn't there, but um a nice family rescued him and then and brought him to Humane Society and then and they reached out to Hamble Lovers Dream Dream Rescue, because as you know, um a lot of these dogs that are born with disabilities or special needs, um We're gonna go to what they cost. I mean they they they cost the taxpayers quite a bit of money in animal
services and Mike you can attest to this. Um so obviously we think about the the side of take of caring for our animals and and wanting to care for our animals, but there's also the side, you know, to the taxpayers of what it cost them to obviously treat these these animals. And unfortunately, I hate to say it. But and again, Mike, you can attest to it. Those are the the most of these animals are the ones that don't get adopted. Um thankfully again we you know we they they they found us, I guess you
could say. So we have two two great uh family members now that that joined us, but um You know, all too often. Um Some of these animals are tossed to the side if they even make it. to Animal Services or the Humane Society or Another Rescue. Unfortunately, a lot of them don't.
But uh you know, just wanted uh introduce JoJo. He's uh again he's a great member of our family and And I'll uh t I can attest to it, I mean, th and I think some of you have participated in adopting animals from either shelters or animal or or animal services. I know Kathy Pierce and we talked earlier. You you uh found uh a rescue not too long ago yourself. And you know, they're great animals. They're great dogs and cats, and they are and absolutely listen, I I will promote Pascoal County Pascoal
County Administrator to the day I die, but there are other great rescues out there too. You know, whether it be Maine Society or SPCA or um again, Animal Lovers Dream Rescue. lot of rescues out there. Um so there's a lot of great dogs and cats available. To our residents. But the unfortunate thing is if we continue down the path we're going. Um you know, the public can't always afford to move forward. uh with taking care of these animals and that puts these animals in
a bad situation. But also again, like I said, uh it is a burden on the taxpayers. So for the people that are wondering, well why do you want to do this? You know, why do you really care about the animals? Well, I know all of us do, that's why this is moving forward, but The other aspect is if you're not really concerned about the animals I know a lot of people are concerned about their pocketbooks too. Right. And it does cost you as a taxpayer more money to continue on the route we're going now. And uh we wanna s there's lots of options there, but hopefully in the future
there won't be as many options in animal services for you to choose from.
Mike Moore
Right. Yeah, absolutely. And we do appreciate uh you bringing JoJo and and Giving us that testimony
Jack Mariano
about
Mike Moore
how he was, you know, taken to a rescue organization. Um we probably work with over 300 rescue organizations at our shelter. So those rescue organizations are taking animals from the public themselves, but they're also pulling from shelters like ours where the public drops them off. And the good news is there's a lot of Families like the Moors and others that will take those dogs. They will rescue them. They do find attachment to those dogs no
matter what the situation is. I would say keeping a small breed. Dog at the shelter. is one of the highest turnovers for us. It doesn't matter how old it is, it doesn't matter what the skin condition is, it could be limping, it could have arthritis, it could have a number of things that they still will adopt it and they will take care of it. They'll find a way. And this good thing about the rescue organizations is when they get those dogs from breeders or other folks that have those deformities
or or situations, those rescue groups will put out a plea and the public always responds. One thing I know about Pasco is they're very compassionate about animals. Our citizens have long supported these rescues.
Jack Mariano
You're right. Yeah, that's a good point. Mike, so you know, a lot of them I know, I know at least Scrappy or other dogs. Now He's not going to be able to do that. Rill's name is Joey Trooper, not JoJo. So he when he came to us, it his name was Trooper at the Rescue. And obviously he's a trooper for having three legs and a lobster claw arm. He's definitely a trooper. And we went ahead and named him Joey. I wanted JoJo. If you remember that cartoon JoJo Circus. Yeah. It would remind me. He reminded me of Jojo Circus for some reason. So I call him Jojo.
Some of the kids call him Joey. He's got a trooper, he's got all kinds of names. But uh but you're right about what you said about people stepping up. And I've noticed this with a number of 'em, especially the one we've gone through, is that they'll put a They'll put a plea out. Um you know, well especially nowadays on Facebook or something like that, and they'll need a thousand or two thousand or three thousand dollars to take care of this animal. So whether they were hit by a car or they have a skin condition or whatever. And people are really, really willing to
step up. Just not everybody can take on three or four or ten more dogs of their own. but they're willing to participate financially to help. But Yeah. Not everybody can take on that many animals or afford to take on that animal that many animals. So it's really, really awesome what you guys do, but it's also pretty awesome what a lot of these rescue groups do that come in and assist. And obviously providing the health care they need and paying for that health care so they are adoptable and people are maybe a little more willing to adopt those animals.
Mike Moore
Absolutely. And you know, it's it there's no shortage of the pets, honestly. I mean, prior to COVID, our shelter was consistently overcrowded.
Jack Mariano
Yeah.
Mike Moore
Uh right now it's down quite a bit, which is great. We're managing it a lot better with mental health.
But the thing about this ordinance is is that It doesn't prevent anybody from getting a pet. from a shelter, an animal rescue organization, or a local breeder. Uh we really don't need to bring them from out of state. Because what you need or what you want for your family you could probably find here in Florida at a good breeder. So Well
Jack Mariano
again it goes last thing and I'll and I'll stop because I know that people want to talk too. No. How much county resources do we continue wanna, you know, put forth to police? certain areas. Right? I mean I'm just being honest, you know. So I think what we're doing and moving forward with um not only for the sake of the animals, but again, I'll go back to the sake of the of every taxpayer of Pasco County, there's a benefit for the animals, people that care about the animals, but also for
the just the general taxpayer too. So we don't have to continually have to quote police um some of the bad ones. Now we know there's some good ones, we won't get into that, but Um So questions? From the board, concerns Thoughts? Okay. I entertain a motion.
This will be a roll call. I have a motion in a second. This will be a roll call.
Madam Clerk.
Ron Oakley
District One, Commissioner Oakley.
Unidentified speakerVoice A
Aye.
Ron Oakley
District three, Commissioner Starkey. Aye. District four, Commissioner Weightman.
Unidentified speakerVoice A
Aye.
Ron Oakley
District five, Commissioner Mariano. Aye. District two, Chairman More.
Jack Mariano
Aye. Motion passes. 5-0. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate it.