PETA requests county reconsider ‘no-kill’ policy

Animal activist group PETA asked the Putnam County Board of Commissioners Tuesday to “immediately overturn” an “inhumane” shelter policy at the county’s Animal Control facility. 

The nonprofit animal rights organization made its request in response to five dogs fatally mauling a mail carrier in Interlachen last year. 

“The (Putnam County) Sheriff’s Office and the county are committed to public safety,” Col. Joe Wells said during a press conference Wednesday. 

PETA issued a press release and a letter addressed to board Chairman Terry Turner and his fellow commissioners.

“When ‘no-kill’ shelters inevitably and almost immediately fill to capacity, the animals most in need are turned away, an inherently dangerous and deadly policy that results in the birth of more unwanted animals and potentially fatal consequences when the rejected animals are aggressive,” PETA’s Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch stated in a press release.

Pamela Rock, the Melrose resident who was on her delivery route in Interlachen, died as a result of her injuries in August, and the dogs involved in the attack were put down later that month. 

A memorial still sits alongside Walker Drive, where she was attacked, the Palatka Daily News reported earlier this year. 

“This was a case where an animal caused bodily injury, and if we can learn lessons from this, we certainly will, if that’s there to be learned,” Wells said. 

Turner said county officials met with Rock’s family Friday but did not divulge details of the meeting. 

Referencing the letter from PETA, he and Wells said they are sure the county’s Animal Services Advisory Committee, which is responsible for coming up with plans for Animal Control, will take the letter into consideration. 

“You have to start looking at your citizens for recommendations back to the (Board of County Commissioners),” Turner said. “Once we get those recommendations, we will then discuss it as a board and act on any possible recommendations that they come up with.”

When asked during the press conference who was on the committee and how many members there were, Turner declined to say.

“I know some members but I don’t really want to say their names on television,” he said. “But they’re public record, of course.”

Deputy County Administrator Julianne Young directed the Daily News to main.putnam-fl.com to find the information. 

After clicking on the citizen participation tab and clicking “committee book,” the Daily News found several committee members: Jackson Tilton, John Traxler, Kathy Eaddy, Linda Gillen, Linda Young, Robert DeFranco and Scott Brauman.

During Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, Young said the advisory committee was still “meeting and communicating on numerous initiatives.”

Last year, a State Attorney’s Office investigation into the attack revealed the dogs’ owner made numerous attempts to surrender the dogs to Animal Control and the state did not file any charges against the owner, the Daily News reported March 2. 

PETA referenced this investigation and an interview with an Animal Control employee who stated the facility was at capacity so the agency could not accept the dogs despite the owner’s numerous requests. 

“Animal control departments were established and are funded with public monies 

categorically to protect animals and the public,” PETA officials wrote in a letter to the board dated March 28 states. “Putnam County’s animal control agency has negligently abandoned its mission by putting ‘live release rates’ and a meaningless “no-kill” moniker above the safety of animals and human residents.”

The organization suggested a “socially conscious” approach to sheltering animals, which they called a humane and responsible approach. 

The seven steps PETA listed to achieve this include making every safe and healthy animal available for adoption, but also alleviating animals’ suffering through “compassionate euthanasia.” 

The steps also recommend considering not only an animal’s well-being when being placed back into a community but also the safety of humans. PETA also recommends shelters are transparent, meaning employees can post statistics, admit any mistakes and share policies with the community. 

“All decisions must be based on integrity,” the guidelines from PETA state. 

Animal Control and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office oversaw the Animal Control facility for 13 years, Daily News records show, until Planning and Development Services took over the responsibility in 2014. 

According to then-Sheriff Jeff Hardy, the staff's time and commitment to those non-law enforcement responsibilities could be put to better use by protecting and serving the people in the county.

While the sheriff’s office no longer has responsibility for Animal Control, Wells said Wednesday, commissioners and the sheriff’s office continue to have a partnership regarding animals in the county. 

He said law enforcement will always have to respond because they are a full-time operation while Animal Control does not operate on the same schedule. 

“The fact that we continue to respond is our responsibility and our duty and is not a reflection upon the performance of Animal Control in any way,” Wells said.

Animal Control works primarily with domesticated animals, like cats and dogs, he elaborated, while the sheriff’s office has a natural resources agricultural department, which covers large animals and livestock cases. 

Wells said the two agencies work hand-in-hand because it’s not responsible to have Animal Control employees respond to every call about an animal. 

The colonel sat on the committee that helped choose the design firm to make the new Animal Control facility. He said even with the new facility coming, residents need to step up and be responsible pet owners. 

“Cases like Ms. Rock are (a) tragedy for the entire community, and public safety is our primary concern through this,” Wells said. “So, if the advisory committee decides that changes need to take place on how we handle the pet population, then so be it.”

County board talks Animal Control

The county’s new Animal Control facility, which has been a hot topic for about five years, came up again at Tuesday’s meeting before the county addressed the PETA letter. Commissioner Paul Adamczyk discussed Animal Control a few hours before PETA issued the letter and press release. 

The new facility will be on State Road 19 in Palatka near the sheriff’s office. The current facility is next to the Putnam County Landfill. 

On Tuesday, Adamczyk suggested the board consider opening smaller-scale facilities in West and South Putnam. With those smaller locations, he said, people could adopt animals closer to their homes rather than having to travel to Palatka for adoptions. 

“Worst case … maybe we have to consider euthanizing some of the animals if they’re overflowing for way too long –  a couple years,” he said. 

Adamczyk said he understands some animals are euthanized because they are sick or too aggressive. He also added that he has heard of recent instances where people are putting down aggressive dogs themselves by shooting them if they feel threatened. Animals who may be barking and defensive because they are scared should have the opportunity to be adopted, Adamczyk clarified, and euthanization should be the absolute last resort.

However, he suggested the county develop a plan for shelter overflow regarding the other animals. 

The first choice, Adamczyk said,  would always be to get those animals adopted out and the second choice is to move the animals to another rescue. 

“We have to have a last resort because we can’t afford to not take in an animal that needs to come in because we have nowhere to put it,” he said. 

Commissioner Leota Wilkinson responded to Adamczyk’s suggestions saying she liked the idea of satellite shelters but the board would have to figure out how to fund it. 

“I think that our staff is doing everything they can with what they have,” she said. “I don’t want this to be a reflection on the staff because I think we have good people working out at Animal Control and they’re doing their best.”

Turner said Wednesday no options are off the table when it comes to discussing solutions for Animal Control and advisory committee recommendations. 

“If they come up with recommendations and we can find the funding for it,” he said, “then obviously we’ll do whatever we can do.” 

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article listed Cyndy D'Agostine as a member of the animal services advisory committee. While as of Thursday afternoon, D'Agostine remained listed as a member on the county website, a county official confirmed that D'Agostine no longer serves on the committee.
An updated committee book can be found here.