By Sheriff Carmine Marceno
One of our recent arrests involving the death of a canine caught the attention of local news agencies. The individual locked his one-year-old Doberman inside of a scalding hot vehicle and left him for an inexcusable amount of time resulting in fatal heatstroke.
Sadly, this is but one of a number of recent arrests made by the dedicated individuals of our Animal Cruelty Task Force.
The harsh temperatures are upon us. I’m asking our residents to be mindful of the well-being of their domestic pets and animals. Florida, despite its beauty and allure, can be merciless and deadly to our pets and livestock.
We have all seen news reports regarding pets left inside cars and trucks during the summer months. It is estimated that a vehicle’s internal temperature rises from 43 to 50 degrees hotter than the external temperature in under an hour.
Brachycephalic canines are at additional risk as a result of their shortened snouts. French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Pekinese, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers, Mastiffs, and Pugs are extremely popular, have difficulty panting efficiently, and are most likely to suffer in extremely hot environments.
I remind our residents, visitors, and guests, that I maintain a “zero-tolerance” policy for this and any other type of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of our animals. Our Animal Cruelty Task Force will quickly respond to any and all calls for service and arrest those in violation of statutes and ordinances. If you abuse an animal in Lee County, you will go to jail!
I was raised with the belief that one can learn a great deal about an individual by the way that he/she treats our most vulnerable… elders, children, and animals. Let’s work together to be a caring and compassionate county!
