Public comment on rabbits, CPS, eagles
What the county recorded
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The source document
The county’s agenda for Board of County Commissioners, Feb 22, 2022
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The county’s minutes for Board of County Commissioners, Feb 22, 2022
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
What was said
Machine transcription of 53m of recording, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 77% of 181 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.
Here. Okay, now is the time for public comment. Citizens are given an opportunity to comment on any current or future agenda item coming before the board and on other business under the board's purview. Today's public comment will be handled as follows. First we will take public comment from those who are here in person. Then we will take public comment from those who have pre-registered for WebEx Link and are currently on queue. We request that when you address the board, comments are not directed personally against a
commissioner or team member. But rather directed at the issues. This provides mutual respect between board members and the public.
Oh here's my it's on. It's on. Okay.
After stating your name and address for the clerk, a three-minute timer will be activated. After two minutes, a single beep will indicate you have one minute left. When your time is up, two beeps will sound and you should close your comments. WebEx participants will be disconnected automatically when their time is up. Madam Clerk, do we have anyone signed up for public comment?
We do. We have um individuals signed up in the room. I'll go ahead and call out the first three names. And oh just for the record, Commissioner Fitzpatrick has joined. All right. So the uh first three names I have Curtis Marsh Pastor Troy Peterson, Pastor Danny Fields.
Good morning. Good morning. Uh my name is Curtis Marsh. I'm president of Suncoast House Rabbit Rescue and I'm here to speak about the hopeful ban on the s retail sale of rabbits in Pasco County. Uh one thing we've we've been doing this with all the counties we've been addressing and I'm hoping that Pasco will Be the
Yeah, he he did.
Ma'am. Go ahead. Oh, sorry.
I wasn't sure if I heard your address.
Oh yes,
but she
said you did.
Now I'll lost the training. Sorry.
Yeah, but so there's been a concern we've been discussing with animal control that, you know, perhaps because of the fact that there's not that large a number in Pasco County that it may be Yeah, not a big deal. A big deal. Um we've been lucky in Pasco County. We haven't had a hoarding case. So There's that.
In the last two months we've been contacted by people in Bradington who bought rabbits in Pasco in holiday. Then they ended up with a hor with an three generations of rabbits that they purchased in holiday and then took back to Bradenton. Um the fact that pet stores are selling products they don't actually know anything about. You can walk in, you ask, you're gonna get whatever rabbit you ask for. If you w you you get a small rabbit, you'll get a dwarf and it won't be a dwarf, because They're
just selling you what you want. Um
There's been some concern at some counties that they're worried about taking away a meat source and we're talking about pet rabbits, not you know, no one's buying a meat rabbit from a pet store, they're buying a pet. And the last issue is that we're going to be able to do Uh kind of falls into animal c cruelty. Rarely do rabbits have adequate food and water even in the pet stores. We go in and we check And they're either out of water, they don't have food, they don't have hay and they're just not being properly cared for in
the pet store. And that's what someone sees when they go to purchase a rabbit and that's what they think they're supposed to do when they go home. So people are doing things like buying hamster water bottles for a rabbit So we don't even know how many rabbits aren't making it. the first month, let alone living a year. So hopefully you take that in consideration. Thank you.
Thank you.
Pastor, you may come. Thank you.
Second. Second. All in favor? Aye.
Opposed, I guess I should say.
Yeah, thank you. I'm a work in progress. Uh Pastor Troy Peterson. Uh [address removed]. That's the light of the world tabernacle. Um I've been coming here for a little while, just kind of sharing on the importance of um prayer, praying in Jesus' name. And I come here today, and I wanted to thank. The Board of Commissioner for the national day of prayer. Um one of the
things that uh since the early nineties uh Somebody Cares pastors have been gathering people together um to do the National Day of Prayer. Uh that is on March fifth and it's actually right on the other side of the wall. Thank you, Commissioners. Uh Last year for coming and and uh Commissioner Mariano, I still got them crosses. I love them, I hand them out to people. And so I just wanted to thank you guys for opening up this county to to pray. Um number two,
uh for several years, uh more than twenty, um Pasco County, somebody cares pastors have been involved with the 40 days of prayer. God for our city. Now I've only been here six years that I've been doing it myself, but these prayer guides go out throughout the nation. So people are praying specific prayers together in their congregations, in their in their meeting places, within their businesses. And I just happen to
turn to one here today. It happens to be Be uh day 31. Do not judge according to appearance, but uh judge with righteous judgment. And then this particular day, they're actually praying that business leaders would pursue more than profits, but community-wide righteousness. And I'm like, wow, that that that's some powerful stuff. So in the years that I've prayed this, I have never found any. scripture or any prayer that
does not uh line up with the word of God. It usually has an old testament scripture and a New Testament scripture this particular day uh praying for uh uh agricultural workers and so I would encourage you just take the the prayer guide home and uh pray with us during these forty forty days of Prayer leading up to uh Good Friday. Also, uh Wednesday nights at the Oasis Coffee Spot, we will be gathering
together. Usually we do that outside on the patio, praying specifically for our government leaders and what what's in the prayer guide. Thank you for your time.
Madam Chair. Pastor, I think isn't National Day of Prayer May May 5th, not March 5th? Did I say
March?
Yes.
I'm sorry.
That's okay. I just want to make sure since the audience was listening
to the right-of-way.
Yeah, yeah. May May fifth. I think it's May fifth. Okay. Thank you.
All right, Pastor Danny Fields followed by Renee Brevard, followed by Suzanne House.
Okay. My name is Pastor Danny Fields. I'm with somebody cares Pasco and uh So
Okay, yes, I'm sorry. [address removed]. Thank you, sir. Okay, and I'm glad you you uh corrected that because I was going to in a nice way. Thank you. And so it it talks about in the same thing with this. I I wanted to hit on that and I will share some things about what Pasco County's doing here with somebody cares, how we're uh doing that. And uh it
It's coming together, working together, like the people here are gonna be bringing up issues today that you are going to uh have workshops on and you know, decide on and all these good things so that way that you could come up with the best solution for the people and for the government working together in our communities. So Father, we just come to you in the precious name of Jesus. We say your will be done. And we thank you, Lord, that we ask for wisdom. And Lord,
that we come to get your counsel and we counsel together here. We listen to the heart of the people and the communities because they're out there knowing what needs to be done. I thank you that they're listening to the people, but the people realize that they got a responsibility to make decisions. With budget, with reland development, and you know, you know, businesses, small businesses and all this, parking and you know, all these things with water and sewer that would be in each district. Lord, I thank you
for each district here and all the board members here and all those at work in the city and in the county working together, Lord. To come up with solutions that you will do for us and through us as a people. And I pray this in Jesus' name. And so I want to share a list that we got coming up. So Troy talked about uh The forty days of prayer So here here's what we're doing. We're we're gonna be having Easter
egg hun in the park. And we do invite uh All those are willing to come into our communities to share the story. And then we do have police fire department there. We even had mayors and other people that has been there and watch the community grow and work together like back in the blue, standing with all of our first responders. And so on that we got the National Day of Prayer like I told you, but we got we're gonna be doing five
events in the water park. So this is a good opportunity for the people and the governments working together to get to know one another. I I've been here only a short time, but I've got to know some people here. And I thank you for uh your service again. I thank you. I respect you. I honor you. And you know, and it says in the Book of Timothy that all prayers and supplication would be for all people, though in a authority. And so you're
you're in a authority, but your authority is to govern this county and thank you for what you've done, doing and will do.
Thank you very much.
Okay. Renee Rivard. Followed by Suzanne House, followed by Anne Marie uh Is it Kennyolo?
I get it.
Good morning commissioners. Renee Rivard, PO Box 81, Cortez, Florida. Fifteen years ago, Petsmart and Petco stopped selling rabbits because they realized they were being dumped at shelters shortly after purchase. Four years ago, the state of California banned the retail sale of rabbits. There are approximately a dozen house rabbit rescues across the state of Florida that are overwhelmed and struggling to fetch unwanted rabbits that are thrown outdoors
because there are not enough facilities that take them in. One of those house rabbit rescues is here in Pasco County. Last year they paid $6,500 just to spay a neuter unwanted rabbits. They are also paying $50 each to vaccinate them against the deadly RHGV2 virus. The virus could spread to our wild rabbits and wipe them out. Your rabbit rescue here in Pasco is full and having a hard time finding fosters
and forhe forever homes for rabbits. In September alone they turned away 66 rabbits. They serve the Greater Tampa Bay Area and we are asking commissioners in all five counties for help. The Animal Services Director in Hillsborough County stated, the rabbit problem is real and has been going on for decades. At an average of $150 per rabbit, the Tampa Humane Society paid forty thousand dollars to spay and neuter two
hundred and sixty one rabbits that they took in last year. $40,000. Sarasota and Defense of Animals, a rescue in Sarasota, said that in their 30 years of operation, they took in over 5,000 rabbits and turned away thousands more. Even the salespeople at the retail stores that sell rabbits have told us that cute bunnies are an impulse buy and are dumped when people realize how expensive they are and that they are they are hard to care for. We have also brought up
the point before about retail stores selling underage rabbits. Florida statute 828.161 states that it is unlawful to sell rabbits under two months of age to be used as pets. A pet supermarket manager in Pasco County admitted to your animal services director that they put six-week-old bunnies out on the sales floor. Two pet supermarket stores in Sarasota admitted to me they had four-week-old rabbits and six-week-old bunnies in their stores. The problem of unwanted rabbits
is getting worse. Rabbit rescues are seeing hoarding cases. The only way to get this problem under control is to slow down the supply with a retail ban. It will not affect 4-H. I spoke with 4-H people at the county fair. They said they would never give up their rabbits. or take rabbits from pet stores because they are not purebred. Commissioners, we need to stop burning out our rescue people and have to get this problem under control. Please consider a retail ban on rabbits to help this situation. Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you.
Good morning. Suzanne House, [address removed], representing Florida Voices for Animals. Pasco Animal Services said retail stores in Pasco sold over 700 pet rabbits last year. And they're concerned about the amount of offsprings from those rabbits. It's hard to find fosters and homes for unwanted rabbits and rescues are usually full. Rescues
turned away 66, pardon me, Sun Coast House Rabbit Rescue turned away 66 unwanted rabbits in September because they were full. This is a big problem in Florida and in the US. Sarasota in defense of animals stated in their thirty one years They took in over five thousand rabbits and they turned away thousands more. Orange County and DeSoto County have banned the retail sales of rabbits,
as well as Key West. The state of California has banned the retail sale of dogs and cats and rabbits. Bunnies are an impulse by at Easter and Christmas. County Run Animal Shelters do not take in rabbits, so where do they go? They're dumped outside. where they don't know how to fend for themselves. You have the power. To help these animals and stop this. Please
ban the sale of retail. Rabbits. Thank you.
Next up is Anne Marie um is it Kencio? And then Aaron Moore, followed by Amanda
Wallace. Good morning, Commissioners. Uh my name is Anne Marie Cancio. Good pronunciation. Uh my address is [address removed]. Um I do live in Hillsboro, but I volunteer in Pasco County with a cat rescue organization called Cat Haven. So just to guess give myself a little bit more credibility here um to speak, I do appreciate the time. I'm here also to talk about the rabbits. I also want to encourage you to ban the retail sale of rabbits in
Pasco, or at a minimum, enact a ban on the sale of pet rabbits during the Easter season. Rather than use my own words to state my case, I would prefer to read from select portions of the findings of facts from DeSoto County, Florida's code of ordinances, in which DeSoto County banned the retail sale of any dog.
Bach of DeSoto County expressed my own views perhaps better than I could myself. And I read, the Board of County Commissioners of DeSoto County, Florida hereby makes the following findings of fact. According to the Humane Society of the US, hundreds of thousands of rabbits in the US have been housed and bred at substandard breeding facilities known as rabbit mills that mass produce animals for sale. to the public, many of which are sold in pet stores. Rabbits that are bred in rabbit mills often suffer
from health, social, and or temperament problems that frequently result in costly treatment or even death. In addition to the above-mentioned abuses, rabbit mills are particularly prone to problems of overcrowding. Rabbits can multiply every twenty-eight days, breeders easily get overwhelmed, which leads to crowding, filthy living conditions and toxic amounts of ammonia in the air. Rabbits are often treated inhumanely in the breeding mills, and these animals are often viewed as disposable, with the largest influx of abandoned
animals being collected annually just after the Easter holiday. The Humane Society of the US estimates that eighty percent of rabbits sold as Easter or Springtime pets are eventually abandoned and cannot fend for themselves. The DeSota Board of County Commissioners deems a prohibition of the retail sale of rabbits in DeSota County to be the best in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of its residents and citizens and the public at large. And that such prohibition constitutes a municipal purpose and will
encourage pet consumers to adopt rabbits from shelters and home-based breeders, thereby promoting consumer protection, saving animals' lives, and reducing the cost to the public of sheltering and euthanasia. Thank you. Appreciate that.
Thank you.
Learn more?
Amanda Wallace, followed by Shalita Thomas.
Good morning. Uh my name's Aaron Moore, uh [address removed].
Which I'm the street address, please. The street address?
[address removed].
I'm with Operation CPS. They say a parent loses a child is the worst feeling imaginable because a parent is never supposed to bury the child. And I truly cannot agree more because the amount of pain and grief that I have experienced for my child been taken from us is unmatched to any other tragedy in my life. So my condolences to all the parents who have had to bury a child. Truthfully, I know that the two are not equivalent. But honestly that's the best comparison I can come up with to describe the moment CPS snatched
my daughter from school. A moment where I felt complete helplessness, where I felt like I failed to protect my daughter, like a father should. where I felt sick to my stomach hearing my wife's pain over the phone, telling me they took her, trying to hold her mother while trying to be strong at the same time. The moment had me paralyzed, just thinking about my baby girl, crying out for help. Wanted to go home, how she was alone, CPS misused and abused their authority to take our daughter away because they felt like it. knowing she is in no danger
in no way, shape, or form. The pain of seeing my wife look defeated because her baby was taken from her is a sight I will never forget. A moment cemented into my head. her going through the emotions, trying to imagine that my daughter is still there, walk around our room Walk around her room, uh sitting in her room, wanted to hear her plan, wanted to hear her ask me to do something simple as Killer Bug. or draw a picture together, or make a TikTok Help her with the homework. I wouldn't wish that fell in upon
my worst enemy. Even though I know it was only CPS using method a method of attack for my family for personal reasons. And they had no reason to take her besides spite, I still feel responsible because it's my job to keep her safe. And it was all my fault because I I have the role as her father and I let her down. and ever since that day has took place nothing has been the same in my life. And Operation Stop CPS works hard to prevent other parents from experiencing the same thing. So to them and to those who support them,
I say thank you and God bless you.
Go ahead. Name and address for the record.
Amanda Wallace, P.O. Box um four six six zero two, Raleigh, North Carolina. All right. So well like I said, my name is Amanda Wallace and my organization is Operation Stop CPS. And as I prepared to come and talk to you guys today, you know, I went and I looked at you guys' picture. Because I wanted to see your eyes before I stood in front of you and looked you in your eyes to let you know that there's a problem in Pasco County. and remind you that you are simply just people. Who chose a career path that brought you
to the seat. But the people that sit behind you Are the people that hold you accountable? to your job. And Pasco County Sheriff's Office is not doing their job. They are kidnapping black children from safe and loving homes. And as Operation Stop CPS, our job is to expose and educate society on the unchecked power of the child protection system and the impact that it's having on our on your community. This family reached out to
us because there's a problem. And our job is to make sure that it's a problem for you. Until it's solved. We will continue to activate your community, we'll continue to come to these meetings, we'll continue to protest outside until this child comes home. Because a little bit about myself is I've been an investigator for over ten years in the state of North Carolina. I've accepted reports of abuse and neglect. I've gone out and investigated to make decisions
if children are safe. And I hope your county attorney is here in this room. because I need him to understand. that as someone that has been qualified as an expert witness in the area of child abuse and neglect investigations. I can testify. that this is unlawful. And that this will cripple your county if a resolution is not come to immediately. And so We demand an independent investigation
by a third party into the illegal kidnapping of this black child. And we demand a ban on the kidnapping of black children by Pasco County Sheriff's Office. So we're not here to ask you if this child can come home. We're here to tell you that she is going to come home, and we're asking you how you want to go about doing it. Thank you.
Next speaker is uh Shalita Thomas. Followed by Diane Kuhn, followed by Elaine uh Galbreth.
Uh my name is Shalita Thomas. I live at [address removed]. She has she had the mic. [address removed]. We can hear. This is my husband. Um I've been a stock broker for almost ten years. Um
We moved from Chicago, Illinois, um A and Pasco County stole my daughter. because a CPI worker made falsif falsify reports because of her personal vendetta that she had against me. They took my daughter out of gymnastics, they took her out of soccer. They took her out of school that she's been at for two years. Because me and the CPI worker Had a misunderstanding
because I will not open my door.
I live in a subdivision, majority white people. Um Nice neighborhood. And I was racially profiled. From the beginning. My child, I have not seen my child since October 22nd. And her mother for nine years.
This is unfair.
This is so unfair.
And can y'all please? Help me get my child back. Because if I never moved to Pasco County, I wouldn't be going through this.
Every day I woke up. take her to school when she got off. I cooked. We did. Tutoring. Monday through Friday, Monday through Thursday was gymnastics because she had it all year round. Then we had soccer on weekends. Where she's at now, can't nobody raise her like I can't I was her mother. I didn't do anything wrong. And when I say they falsify reports, they locked me up. W once
one thing once one thing they couldn't do something about it They locked me up on f on a sixty thousand dollar bond.
And lied.
Can y'all please help me get my child back? I did not deserve this. I wouldn't be here if they n did not take my child. Imagine your children getting took. It's hard.
Thank you.
I I Thank you. We'll we'll be in touch. What should I?
Madam Chairman Mariano. Yeah. I think Kathy Pearson, I think, is going over
to her. If you all want to go outside and speak with our assistant county administrator there who oversees that Division. We'd love for you to talk with her.
Wait a second. She can uh the the assistant county administrator can try and help, but but the folks need to know that CPS is not a division that's under the Board of County Commissioners. The sheriff is not an employee of the Board of County Commissioners. Sheriff is a separate constitutional officer in Florida and CPS works for him. Yeah. Well the public services may be able to assist you But it's not this board
can't really intervene in that in a sheriff's matter.
You guys are s not you guys, but Pasco County and CPI workers are abuse America.
We can't we can't kill kids. So we can't have discussion back and forth like this, but please step outside and and speak with Kathy.
Chairman Mariano. Madam Chair. Um she can also speak to Ken Killian, our CPI in Pasco Sheriff's Office. Well they're gonna have that discussion out there.
Thank you.
All right. Do we have any more speakers? Yes, ma'am, we do. Um Diane Kuhn. Elaine Galbreth. And then Lisa Schmidt.
Hello, my name is Diane Kuhn. I live at [address removed]. I'm here representing Florida Voices for Animals. Um today I would like to speak for the Pasco County Rabbits. I'm asking that you institute a ban on all retail rabbit sales in the county. A good person will go to the pet store with the intention to buy a rabbit They more than likely will know nothing about how to take care of one. It's an impulse by the
right-of-way. That will lead to a full time caging. or rehoming or animal shelter, but worst of all they'll end up dumping the rabbit. in the wild, which will lead to a certain death. The selling and buying. is a year round problem. But the worst time of the year is Easter, when impulse buying of the cute little bunny is at its highest.
can have its back easily broken by just handling it incorrectly. They squirm and they bite, and they don't like to be held. They are not kittens or dogs. Rabbits are the third given up pet after cats and dogs. Rabbits can live up to ten years. They are expensive to spay a neuter, and they chew on just about everything. And they need lots of exercise, not a life in a cage. Please consider this ban. This is not a new problem. But we
need a new solution to help stop this cycle of unwanted rabbits being dumped and abandoned. This can be a new beginning for the Pasco County Rabbits. Thank you for your time.
Thank you. Elaine Galbreth.
Good morning, Commissioners.
Um my name is Elaine Galbraith. I live at [address removed]. And I'm also with Florida Horses for Animals. This is about the rabbits. According to the ASPCA, rabbits are the third most frequently surrendered animals at shelters and the third most euthanized. According to animal justice, just
like in puppy mills, bunnies are often bred in large facilities. Puppy mills force rabbits to live their entire lives in breeding machine as breeding machines confined in cages with no ability to roam. enjoy being with their families or perform natural behaviors. Bunnies are social animals and need a lot of attention and can get depressed and eventually die if left alone
in small cages, which many of 'em end up in small cages. A huge number and this is me, a huge number of those just for the holiday bunnies often go directly from celebration to a shelter, and many are released into the wild where they usually die from starvation. The elements or from predators? Remember. People that buy rabbits as a gift. for Easter basically
have the mindset that the bunny is a novelty. and don't realize the amount of care the bunny needs to live a healthy life. Even if the pet stores give the person that purchases a bunny a sheet. to educate the buyer on how to care for the living bunny, It is already too late. The bunny has been purchased. Commissioner Yeah. I'm sure you call yourself animal lovers. Please realize that a rabbit
is an animal that needs you. to speak up for him or her, as they are not able to speak for themselves.
Please for the bunnies support the ban. Thank you so much, Commissioner Oakley.
Following Lisa Schmid is uh Kim Roxwrote and Miriam Uh parlaw.
Please
state
your
name
and address for the record. Thank you.
Lisa Schmidt, [address removed]. I'm sorry, I've made a horrible mistake. I did not mean to sign up on that paper. I have nothing to address you about. I was told to come for a check presentation as a representative for my work. So you I'm all done. Thank you. Have I been
That's funny.
Right, that's right.
Good morning. My name is Kim Rekstroat. I'm at [address removed]. I am the Eagle Watch Coordinator for Pasco County, representing Audubon, Florida. I'm here to speak upon the Eagles on Lake Jovita. and the wetlands that are we are trying to preserve at twelve two hundred to Tradition Drive. This uh nest has been reported several years ago and has fledged over twenty D um over a dozen eaglets
that we know of. But there is uh land development happening on this property and we are asking that the trees be saved because eagles do offer site fidelity. They have attempted to rebuild their nest in those trees, and we are asking that um you please
Preserve those trees and those wetlands. For the eagles to rebuild their nest on. We do have we have spoken with U.S. Fish and Wildlife. And Florida Wildlife Commission, and they both recommend that those wild those trees and the wetlands be preserved. Thank you. Thank you.
Miriam Parlaw? And the last individual I have signed up is Cheryl Merce.
Good morning. My name is Miriam Parham. I'm from [address removed]. And I have been a Pasco resident for the past 27 years and worked in health care in the local hospitals and the health department. I also represent Florida Voices for Animals, a nonprofit group with over 4,500 supporters in this area. Our mission is to educate the public about animal abuse and exploitation, and I think I've shared some of this, but the breeders really are an example of abuse and exploitation, and they're like puppy mills, you've
heard that, and they can have extreme conditions in the way they're raised and kept. And then transportation. Very stressful. Animals are packed tightly into little cages. Um
even bunnies, uh chicks and ducks can be included in all that. And then when they get to the retailers, even well meaning retailers can keep 'em in cages with wire cages that are very painful to their tender little feet and as you've heard they may not have adequate food and water and that's what people see when they buy. And then finally the consumer, probably mostly unaware, you've heard I'm not going to repeat the things that have been said about they don't know how to handle them and they're very fragile and can be hurt. So
the thing about it is is that they're viewed as toys for the Kids or things, even by the well meaning adults, they talk about it replacing it, not a sentient living creature. And as you can see, you've heard other things about them being injured, but they can get sick very easily, and they're good at hiding that until sometimes it's too late. So, with all these concerns that you've heard about the handling and the illnesses and the injuries and just the way they can they can traumatize children. Um, at the Animal Services Committee we
had someone that mentioned how as a child they went through four different sets of rabbits that kept dying or disappearing. appearing and even fifty years later a woman was saying her and her sister were traumatized by that. You know, mental health, you know, is very important for child well being. So just experiencing that and the fact that they can be scratched in the face or as was mentioned can bite So they have no place to go most of the time when people decide they can't keep them, so they may dump them. So education is important, but it's not the answer. It can be
put aside. Like a sheet of paper is not going to do it. I they're not gonna go to a class, I'm sure, about the proper care. So working in health care, I know how many times people are handed medication instructions or discharge instructions and they don't read them. They say, Well, nobody told me. Well, it wasn't written in paper. They're not always going to read those instructions. So um you've heard they've been already banned in many places, even in Florida, in other states, um New York. York City back in 2014 banned rabbit sales. It's really going to
happen. It needs to happen. Let's be a leader. We don't have that many here. It's not going to be um that difficult I think to be a leader innovator and and start with Pasco as well to this campaign which hopefully will go statewide. Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you. Any more, Nikki? One uh Cheryl Martz and then I have uh three on WebEx. Okay.
Good morning. My name is Cheryl Murz and my address is [address removed]. And I am the Hillsborough County Eagle Watch Coordinator for Audubon Florida and I do monitor nests in Pasco County, east Pasco County of one the Ness that I'm in concerned with at this point is Are it there is no nest that exists but the trees that still exist for the eagles at Lake Chavita?
and I am here to represent the Eagles and Eagle Watch.
Uh make sure that the trees are protected in the wetlands and on the property where the eagles do nest. The nest is not there right now, but we do believe that they will be returning in next season to nest in that area. They are very attached to that to that property and they're there seventy-five percent of the time. I do watch them on a weekly basis and I wanted to um Just be here to protect the eagles and make sure that their trees are protected along with
the wetlands that are very important to that area as well.
Thank you. All right, you said we had three online. Yes.
Um is there anyone else in the room here that wishes to address us? Well, line up. Uh anyone else? Because if if anyone else wants to please line up behind him. Okay, that be our only speaker in the room. Come on up and then we'll go to our online speakers. Thank you.
Mm-hmm. Morning. Morning. My name is Kevin Bone. I live at [address removed]. [address removed]. I am uh here to assist the eagle people. Um I am the neighbor at Lot 264. I also own three other additional lots. Those lots have got the same scenario that we have on lot two six three, the lot in subject. Um it's encumbered by a tremendous amount of wetlands,
uh native trees. And in the building of my house, which was completed two years ago, we worked with your staff, we worked with Swift Mud, we worked with Fish and Wildlife. And um we had tremendous success. We were able to uh in fact during the height of our construction there were two two eagles that were born and lived and survived. So I can attest to that if we follow the rules, that the eagles will survive and be able to coexist with us. The problem being is that our
new neighbor has submitted plans that show a uh inconsistent wetlands with the county's own plans. I had the opportunity to meet with your natural resource people out there, and he asked me if I had set of plans for my property. for Lot 264. When I compared my lot property that was done by D. C. Johnson and Associates, It matched exactly with Pasco County's. The plan that they had in their hand
that was submitted for approval does not. Its alteration clearly shows that the wetlands have been impacted significantly. Uh this plan was also submitted to Swift MUD, and apparently there was no contention with Swift MUD on approving the permit. But if you look at your own plans that your own people staff-wise have, it will show that there is an issue. This was brought to the individual's attention that it should be addressed and that they f then
could proceed with the construction. I have no problem with whatever homes they want to build, I have no problems whatsoever, but the problems existed when I looked at the staking that was done by their surveyor. The survey stakes are encroaching on my property when we get deep into the wetlands. And we've gone to great extents to preserve those wetlands. And I can tell you firsthand that dealing with your staff has always been a pleasure. I've built five commercial buildings and two homes in Pasco County. Never
once did I have a problem with Pasco County Building Department or Permitting Department. I think they're excellent people. They do a s outstanding job at what they do. And I think if you have the opportunity to consult with your staff, you will see that these inconsistencies have been brought forth. Now the owner has chosen to ignore those and proceed with construction without having all the necessary permits, erosion control, and the signage for permits that have been issued. Okay, that's standard business practices.
So we're hoping that neighbor wise myself that you would look into this and make sure that this individual, please do it the right way. You will have the best home, you'll have the best neighbors, and I promise you that we'll have a great existence together for the rest of our lives.
Thank you very m thank you very much. All right, and then we have
three speakers online. Yes, uh Madam Chair, we have an individual who signed up as Simone Our Lola. And um there is a Simone online but it's with the name of the last name of Russell. I'm thinking it's the same person because the email address starts with an R Simone. So if we could elevate her. Thank you. Yes. You may state your name and address for the record?
Hi, my name is Simone Awalola. Um, I'm at Uh uh [address removed].
Thank you.
Okay, my name is Simone. I'm I'm the mother of Shaletta Thomas. And I wanted to go on record and to let y'all know that DCFS has currently kidnapped my granddaughter from my daughter, Shalita Thomas. When they took her, when they kidnapped my granddaughter, she was in soccer, she was in gymnastics, she has been to Disneyland twice, she is in school every day, good grades, up to date on her reading log, well-mannered, well
dressed. My daughter is the epitome of a mother that is clearly invested in her child. My daughter started her own business so that she could have the time and money to nurture her daughter. Shalita is a great mother. And she knew she was above reproach. But the pride of being a great mother blinded her to the fact that DCFS does whatever they want to whomever they want, regardless
of the casualties. The day DCFS kidnapped my granddaughter, Maitea Tuggles, from my daughter, Shalita Thomas. She calls me. She was crying so hard she couldn't get it out. She couldn't tell me what happened. So many seconds went by. And the agony in her cry made her pain tangible. I knew at that point that she was crying about Matea,
about her baby, and that it was horrible. And sure enough. DCFS had kidnapped her child. And the worst part of it all, although that is bad, the worst part of it all, it happened because of some disgruntled worker. And my thing, what I want to know is what is in place. For disgruntled workers. When you find them at at these factories where they shot up people, something happens
to them. And I just need something to be done about this lady because it's it's apparent that she has no regard for life. Because she has done this simply because hurt feelings. Her feelings got hurt. And and and it I know that if she did this to my child, to my daughter, she'd have done it to somebody else. And and and I just need Somebody to put something into place to
prevent this from happening again. There was no record, there was no calls on my daughter. They were at the school for three days harassing my granddaughter before they took her. They talked to the teachers. There was nothing. There was no reason. There was no clear and evident evidence of abuse. There was nothing there. But they took her anyway. They took her anyway. Why? Because of a disgruntled worker and I need something to get put in
place. And prevent the disgruntled workers.
Thank
you very much. um We hear you. Thank you very much. Um all right, we have the next one.
Yes. Um Kelly Harter is up next. If you could state your name and address for the record.
Hi, it's Kathy Harter. Uh my address is [address removed]. I live in [address removed]. And um that's a suburb of Orlando. I'm a retired CPA and the President and Treasurer of Orlando Rabbit Care and Adoptions. And I know you all are learning more about rabbits than you probably ever care to. But I would also like to add my voice and thank you for the consideration that you're giving to the ordinance to add rabbits
to the ban of sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. Um I understand there is thought to rely on education rather than Impose a ban. Um, but I think we know that education doesn't work. Other people have talked about that. And if education worked, you might not have had to um rely on an ordinance to prevent the sale of dogs and cats. And although I'm a resident of Seminole County, through working with domestic rabbit rescue, the
largest one in the Orlando area, we see the impacts of what the sale of rabbits does in the community. We have close to 100 rabbits and foster homes. But we have curtailed intakes, as you've heard most rescues have. Because we have no room. Um and even if it wasn't the case that we're all full, I would support the ordinance for other reasons for the humane aspect. You've heard people talk about what happens to the rabbits that are dumped outside and also consumer protection aspects, which
I'll talk about a little bit. Um I also understand that Pasco County Administrator researched the sale of domestic rabbits and found no data to attribute the abandonment specifically to retail stores. And that may be the case right now, but it can easily change. I would suggest that you proactively add rabbits to the band to avoid getting behind the curve. There's no impact to retail stores now. In the future, if it does, then you're also going to have to deal
with considering what impact to businesses you'd have if you add rabbits to them. Um Animal Services also noted that factors leading to the abandonment of rabbits include lack of rehoming options for pet owners. access and affordability of veterinary care. Um while educ see, sorry. Um
We've talked about how rabbits reproduce. Rabbits can get pregnant the day they give birth. So what happens is a consumer may go to a pet store or a breeder or whoever, get two rabbits thinking they have the same gender. Thirty days later they have a litter and by that time the rabbit's already pregnant again. So you have the consumer with no options of public shelters and The agony of trying to decide what to do with the animal. And we've also heard about
how traumatic that can be to the family. Uh I urge you to move forward with adding the rabbits to the band to avoid the future problem. And in closing, I would just like to say, being an accountant, I am very pro-business, but not at the expense of the lives of living creatures. I consider, uh I hope you consider that aspect of the ban as well. And thank you for your consideration.
Thank you. And last one? Last one, Susan Hall. Please state your name and address for the record.
Susan Hall, my address is [address removed]. I volunteer with Sun Coast House Rabbit Rescue, and I applaud and support all of the people that have spoken up to this point. I don't want to duplicate anything that they have said. Everything that they have said is hugely important. One thing that has not been mentioned is that There currently is an a an epidemic of a horrible rabbit disease called rabbit
hemorrhagic virus disease two, which is sweeping across the country and is a A huge problem. It causes almost immediate death within 24 hours, and it's not detectable until it's too late. The most critical way to prevent this from wiping out our native rabbits, wild rabbits, and our pet rabbits, is to make sure that biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the
spread. Of this horrible disease until everybody gets vaccinated, which is expensive and not easily available. I've had to uh go to a number of veterinarians in the state of Florida trying to find someone to vaccinate my personal bunnies and get help for the rescue to revaccinate their bunnies. It's a tremendous expense for the veterinarians. To get the certification necessary and to get the vaccine, which is similar to the COVID
vaccine in that if they don't use it that day, it has to be disposed of. So my veterinarian says that she is doing this as a public health concern because if this if this virus gains footage in Florida, we've had two cases in late. County and St. John's County, I believe. But if it gains footing in Florida, we're going to see our native rabbit population demolished. And it can easily happen if somebody goes
to a pet store, buys a bunny, gets the paper that they're not going to read or doesn't cover enough. And then because of the overfilled situation with all the rescues, they don't. Dump the bunny and then it spreads to the wild rabbit population. Please, please, please, I'm begging, give us the ban on sales of rabbits from pet stores. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Thank you very much. Uh that is the end of
our public Speaking. It is. All right. All right, so uh members, we will uh move on to the consent agenda. I have two polls somewhere I have. Resolution.
We got four minutes.
I think we get the consent and take it.