Brevard County Inmates to Read Stories to Calm Pets at Animal Care Center This July 4th
By Wayne Ivey, Brevard Sheriff // July 1, 2023
pets often get anxiety and frightened because of fireworks on July 4
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – As everyone is well aware, our beloved pets often get anxiety and frightened because of fireworks and other loud noises that can be heard on the 4th of July.
As a result, a few years ago, our team decided to take a new approach to help calm the dogs and cats at our Animal Care Center by having inmates comfort them during the peak hours of fireworks.
What originally started as a suggestion by a number of our citizens, turned into an amazing idea to help calm our homeless pets, so tonight, for the fourth year in a row, our Chain Gang and other inmate work crews, will be comforting the dogs and cats at the Animal Care Center by reading to them, playing with them, and even feeding them treats during the peak hours of celebration for our nation’s Independence.
Our goal is to not only help calm our pets, but also to help build and instill a sense of purpose and compassion in the inmates that will hopefully aid them as they transition back into society once they have served their time.
In addition, and as a reminder, Florida State Statue section 791.08 provides that December 31st, January 1st, and July 4th, are “designated holidays” on which use of fireworks is not prohibited.
Even with that, we ask that everyone please be respectful and considerate of their neighbors by limiting fireworks to reasonable hours of usage as we have military veterans and other service members with PTSD, as well as pets who struggle with the loud noises and effects of fireworks.
I want to personally thank everyone at our Animal Care Center, our Work Crew Supervisors and of course, the inmates, for dedicating their time to help our furry citizens rest peacefully this 4th of July and of course our citizens for all they do to help keep our community a great place to call home.
As I always say…”it takes a community to protect a community!”
– Sheriff Wayne Ivey
