BCSO Animal Services Accomplishments Detailed For Brevard Commissioners
By Wayne Ivey, Brevard County Sheriff // May 1, 2015
ANIMAL SERVICES DOING OUTSTANDING WORK
ABOVE VIDEO: Supermodel and actress Kate Upton was back in Brevard in March to host the Grand Slam Adoption Event at Space Coast Stadium, sponsored by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Matthew Development, LLC. (Video by Zach Clark, SpaceCoastDaily)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office provided a short presentation this week regarding the status of our Animal Service efforts to the Brevard County Commissioners.
It was an honor and privilege to present the outstanding efforts and accomplishments of our team after the first six months of Animal Services operations.
We are incredibly proud that our community and elected officials strongly support our mission to keep our community a safe place to call home and also have enough confidence in us that the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a proposal for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to assume all responsibilities for the Brevard County Animal Services Department beginning on October 1 of last year.
Animal Services is responsible for the annual care of over 14,000 animals, as well as enforcing the County’s animal codes and all animal impacts on public safety for Brevard County.
For a major entity such as Animal Services to be incorporated into the operations of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, much needed to be accomplished in a very short time period.
Our team worked around the clock to make certain that this important merger was not only successful, but will become a model program for other agencies throughout that state and country to copy.
Since assuming this important responsibility, Animal Services efforts developed several new positions including a Volunteer Coordinator, Facilities Maintenance Coordinator, intern positions, Animal Cruelty Investigator and inmate labor to clean and walk dogs.
A Lieutenant was also provided to oversee Animal Enforcement, a Rescue Coordinator was added, we hired a Veterinarian, created a 501c charity to raise funds to support animal rescue efforts across Brevard County, and teamed with other non-profits such as the Habitat for Humanity to provide an effective support force-multiplier.
Habitat for Humanity Project: From February 6 to 9, the South Animal Care Center closed for business as the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and local community members, participated in an “Extreme Animal Care Center Makeover.”
The partnership to completely makeover the Care Center was designed to develop and create a much more healthy and efficient environment for the animals in our Care Center, the employees, and the members of our community who frequent the location.
The project included painting of kennels, construction of exercise areas, community cat rooms, socializing area, and an outdoor quiet area for citizens who are parting with their pets for health and quality of life reasons.
ABOVE VIDEO: More than 150 volunteers from throughout the community, along with Habitat for Humanity, helped with an “Extreme Animal Care Center Makeover” that transformed the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office South Animal Care Center. A special thank you goes to Fishr the dog for starring in the video.
Volunteers throughout the community participated in this exciting project, which was primarily funded by the Pet Posse.
In addition to Habitat for Humanity, this project was made possible due to partnerships with East Coast Fence and East Coast Construction as well as the generosity of numerous donors throughout our community.
Through coordinated efforts with the County Manager, we have replaced the dilapidated fleet with 10 new animal transport trucks and animal carriers.
At the time of the merger, the annual Live Release Rate was 74.5 percent, the current Live Release Rate is 76 percent with this month’s Live Release Rate at 87 percent.
Our efforts have included, enhanced partnerships with local Rescues like the SPCA, CBHS, FFAS, SCFN, and others, re-established partnership with AMI Kids, Canine Commando Program in full operation, created awareness and adoption opportunities such as Save Me Saturday, biweekly Healthy Pet column, increased adoption events and partnerships, created the Paws & Stripes College, a partnership with Eastern Florida State College (a training program for college students in Vet Tech programs and inmates which combined improve the health and welfare of the animals).
Finally, I would like to thank our incredible Animal Service Team, our Career Development Unit, our Human Resource Office and the commitment and dedication of Commander Greg Purden, Lieutenant Tom Young, Manager Joe Hellebrand, Veterinarian Sara Boyd, Animal Trainer Clara Mutter, Media Specialist Katrina Wilson, Deputy Ed Becht, Mandy Dymond and so many others for their incredible support, participation and dedication to ensure every animal has a chance at a healthy and loving home.
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