Letters to the Editor

+ Sarasota County Animal Services completed big task
Dear Editor:
Regarding the confiscation by Sarasota County Sheriff’s Animal Services from a Venice breeder/hoarder: Our community needs to be aware of the immense resource of experience and skill Sarasota County is fortunate to have. Volunteers, supervisors and staff members worked until 9:30 or 10 p.m. only to return at 7 a.m. to start the process again. The teamwork, organizational expertise and camaraderie of these people are truly remarkable. I am not sure our residents actually understand what a monumental responsibility it is when there is a situation like this. When you think of examining, identifying, photographing, labeling, cleaning/clipping as much as you can, and then housing, feeding, watering and giving towels and toys to more than 250 little dogs … it is a MAJOR undertaking.

Although much of the public carries a negative image of shelters, Sarasota County Animal Services has a low euthanasia count because of the networking it has in place and the tireless efforts of both staff and volunteers. It was this networking, media coverage and the fact that the owner of these dogs signed them over that put the wheels in motion to transfer the dogs to rescues, giving hope to all animals in Sarasota County. My hat is off to Sarasota County Animal Services for a job well done! I also praise the rescues that stepped up. They all deserve our support.
M. Lincoln Hay
Sarasota