BCSO Animal Services Unit Named ‘Agency of the Year’ By Florida Animal Control Association
By WAYNE IVEY, BREVARD SHERIFF // February 12, 2017
ABOVE VIDEO: Sheriff Ivey announced Friday morning that Brevard County Animal Services has officially reached the status as a “No Kill Community.”
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – This evening I am extremely proud to announce that the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services Unit has been named “Agency of the Year” by the Florida Animal Control Association.
The announcement came during last night’s Florida Animal Control Associations Awards Ceremony that took place during the organization’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services Unit was originally named as one of three finalist from across the state of Florida and then during last night’s event was announced as the “Agency of the Year” for their amazing accomplishments since taking over Animal Services in Brevard County.
The Florida Animal Control Association touted Brevard’s leadership, innovative programs, community partnerships, progressive initiatives, and achieving “No Kill” status in naming Brevard County as their top agency over Orange and Broward Counties who were also finalists for the prestigious honor.
When the Sheriff’s Office assumed responsibility for animal services in October of 2014, we made a commitment; to make Brevard County a more humane community, to raise the standard of care in our shelters, to re-unite lost and stray pets with their owners, and to save as many animals as possible through adoptions, fosters, innovative programs, education, and enhanced relationships with our rescue partners and community.
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Previous to the Sheriff’s Office taking over Animal Services, Brevard County averaged a 55% live release rate over the previous 5 years.
On October 1, 2016 exactly two years to the day from taking over Animal Services our agency held a press conference to proudly announce that our community had reached “No Kill” status with a live release rate of 94.5%, an achievement few thought was possible.
Our live release rate from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016 was 94.85%, and even more amazing; 14 of the 15 prior months our live release rate exceeded 90%. Currently, From October 1, 2016 to February 11, 2017 our live release rate stands at 94.35%.
Although we proudly recognize the significance of this achievement, we also realize that achieving a 90% live release rate, and recognition as a “No Kill” community is not a destination or a onetime designation, rather it is a continued journey that together with our community partners we will maintain for the benefit of our animals and the well being of our community!!
As I have said many time before, “it takes a community to protect a community,” and our community clearly works together to protect our pets.
Please join me in congratulating our Animal Services Unit, our volunteers, our rescue partners, and our community in making this happen and in finding forever homes for our furry citizens!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.
Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft. That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today. The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.
Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.
Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.
