LAKE CITY, Fla. – People are abandoning animals at a Lake City animal shelter while the staff isn’t there. And shelter leaders hope to speak with lawmakers to address the issue of animal dumping.
Elizabeth Halloran is the executive director of the Humane Society in Lake City.
She said there were multiple mornings where staff would come to work and find dogs or puppies abandoned, or dumped on their doorstep. More than a dozen dogs were dumped during an eight-day period.
“You get a little upset,” Halloran said. “Emotion because of course, the sign states no dumping.”
Halloran said dumping the animals while staff aren’t there is against its policy, but it still happens despite the large sign stating there’s a $500 citation if the rule is violated.
It’s an increasing problem because the shelter is over capacity.
From Feb. 9 to 17, 14 dogs were abandoned.
“The problem it presents is not having an empty kennel to put these dogs in so we have to find some,” Halloran said.
There are 61 kennels with 80 dogs. She said she wishes people who abandon their dogs would talk with them before doing so. Workers could tell them about available resources or rescues that could take the animal.
She added that they haven’t been able to catch anyone because people always hide from their cameras.
Halloran said she hopes to speak with local lawmakers about addressing animal dumping in general.
Click here to learn more about animal services by the Lake City Humane Society.
