After Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) permitted many English Bulldogs to stay in outside kennels during extremely hot weather, local animal rescue officials voiced concerns about the wellbeing of a number of the dogs.
Paw Paws Rescue Ranch and Sanctuary owner Michele Higham questioned why ACPS chose to leave 13 dogs at a Westside property in temps as high as the 90s while removing only one seriously ill dog.
“Someone at ACPS owes the public an explanation on why ACPS allowed it at 4:17 PM Friday, to drive off the property and leave 13 dogs out in the heat,” Higham stated.
The incident started Thursday evening when a worried resident called Higham regarding an ailing English Bulldog. When Higham looked into it during the day, he found what looked like a possible breeding business.
According to animal specialists, English Bulldogs are particularly vulnerable to the potentially fatal heat stroke in hot climates.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was notified by Higham, and animal control officers showed up on the scene. One very sick dog that they removed was ultimately put down because of a potentially fatal tumor.
While the property owner was in the hospital, officers had a conversation with an on-site caretaker, according to Animal Control Chief Michael Bricker, who defended the agency’s conduct.
“That caretaker listened to everything we asked them to do,” Bricker stated. “We asked her to take some of the dogs inside. She did. We asked her to make some changes to their outside enclosures to make them more habitable for those English Bulldogs, and she did. She changed the water. She took care of everything.”
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Bricker said the agency looked through the dogs’ medical records and found they were up to date on vaccines and flea and heartworm prophylactic treatments.
When Higham went back on Saturday to see how the animals were doing, he discovered that they were still exposed to the intense heat. The pets and outdoor kennels had disappeared from the property by Sunday.
Officials from ACPS acknowledged that they are unsure of the whereabouts of the remaining dogs at this time. Higham stressed that making sure the animals are no longer housed outside in hazardous heat is her top priority.
Officials have not revealed the identity of the property owner, who is presently receiving hospice care.
