Miami-Dade rescuers are frustrated and confused by the new policy regarding accepting stray dogs at county Animal Services, Local 10 reported.
Now many Good Samaritans don’t know where to turn when trying to find a place to take stray animals .
“They just told me they don’t have any space available ,” resident Marjorie Jean-Louis told Local 10.
Jean-Louis told Local 10 his story about how he rescued a stray dog he named Troy last November. Trying to find out the origin of the dog, he realized that he did not have a built-in microchip.
“He got along with my dogs with no problem,” he explained. “But I also have a cat, and he doesn’t like cats.”
Jean-Louis eventually turned to Miami-Dade Animal Services, but says she was turned away.
“They told me they wouldn’t take dogs,” he explained. “And that I had to put things online and try to find the owner, and I said yes.”
Users who contacted Miami-Dade County’s 311 line for help with abandoned pets got a similar response. “We still have excess capacity ,” an operator told a person he called. “We are not accepting any stray animals at this time.”
What is the reason for this new policy?
The decision was part of a policy change that went into effect in early December due to a lack of capacity inside the shelter. Details are outlined in a county document outlining a new “Managed Admissions Program.”
“What it means is that we were managing our space by prioritizing animals that really need shelter ,” explained Deputy Director of Animal Services Kathleen Labrada. “So injured, abused, neglected, owner not surrendering, or friendly strays found in a neighborhood type location.”
Labrada said the policy encourages those who find healthy strays to help reunite them with their families, using social media and talking to neighbors. She said the decision is based on research that showed the vast majority of dogs, 83%, are reunited with owners within three days if kept in the same neighborhood.
