b'I TS N OT I N N UMBERS B UT I N U NITYT HAT O UR G REAT S TRENGTH L IES *By Anna CookeIn2019,afterhavingeuthanizednearly had taken the time to understand the8,000 of the 15,000 pets they took in, Polk magnitudeoftheShelterscircumstances,County officials realized that, in order for a she added.seachangetooccur,theywouldhaveto Deisler convinced the most vocal of theaccept outside help. Data compiled currently Sheltersadversariestocometogether,lists Polk County Animal Control as sixth encouraging them to help rather than buttin the United States for having the highest heads with the staff. She helped them organ-shelter animal euthanasia numbers, placing ize and figure out where they could fit intoit at number one in Florida. This unenviable the whole plan to improve the live-releasedistinctionwasnotloston numbers at the Shelter. With assistance fromPolkCountySheriffGrady Florida Leaders in Lifesaving, Polk No KillJudd, whose department over- Coalition, Inc., a 501c3 not-for-profit, wasseesAnimalControl.But formed, and brought together many of thegiven the realities that govern Shelters former critics.priorities,achangeofthis This group is having a huge positivemagnitudewillbetime-con- impact,andeveryoneisworkingtogethersumingandmetwithresist- towards a common goal, said Deisler. Weance.have to focus on what we have in commonIt took Denise Deisler, rather than our differences, because we allfounderofFloridaLeaders have our differences. But, if you want to saveinLifesaving andCEOof lives, you must let go of those differences.TheJacksonvilleHumane Polk County Animal Control is a workSociety, more than a year of in progress. Theyve come a long way frombackandforthemailsand where they started, Deisler said. Yes, wephone calls before shelter staff still have work to do, but we celebrate everyagreed to meet. Her first goal success theyre having.was to convince staff to meet WhiletheSheltersnumbersarewithoutsidegroupswho improving, its not the only shelter in Floridawantedtohelp. Thatwould ortheUnitedStatesthatcontinuestotakeanotheryearofwork, improve.including more phone conver- Polk County is no different than anyPuppy Time: Polk County sations with Sheriff Judd.other community in that regard. Its just thatBully Project co-founder Meanwhile, Polk County Animal Control the problem was much bigger, and its goingAngela Lorio and Polk staffcontinuedtobemalignedbythe totaketime,saidDeisler.PolkCountyCounty Sheriff Grady Judd. public, often viciously through social media, didnt have to cooperate with anyone, but*Quote by Thomas Pane forwhatwasbelievedtobetheirlackof they chose to. What we should be focusingcompassiontowardstheanimals.Itwasa on now, is that are they are moving in thegood bet that a Pit mix who ended up at right direction. Communities do well whenPolk County Animal Control, for any rea- communities are engaged."son,wasadeaddog,includingpregnant OtherprogramsarehelpingPolkmommas and their puppies. Lack of room County to improve its numbers, includingwasthebiggestcausegivenfortheneed TLC Pet Snip and the Polk County Bullyto euthanize. Project. (featured on the following pages).Finally,staffcouldseethatwewere Do the right thing for the rightsincere; that we werent in town to criticize reasons, said Deisler, And the right resultsthem,said Deisler. Previously, nobody will happen. U36 THE NEW BARKER'