This petition was created to DEMAND the Removal of Annette Jose, Director of Miami-Dade Animal Services.  Included are the faces of 3 dogs just recently euthanized as a result of the issues discussed in this petition.  This is just 3 But there are so many more who have been euthanized and are currently at risk of being euthanized as we speak.

We, the undersigned, call for the immediate removal and resignation of Annette Jose, Director of Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS), due to a sustained and alarming pattern of failures that are resulting in increased bite incidents and the unnecessary killing of dogs under her leadership.

Over the past couple years, Miami-Dade Animal Services has experienced an excessive and unprecedented number of dogs involved in bite incidents, followed by rapid euthanasia. This is not reflective of a sudden change in the dogs entering the shelter.

Those of us who have worked in rescue, advocacy, and animal welfare for over 10 years can state clearly:

The dogs have not changed.

The environment has.

The leadership has.

MDAS has become a warehouse of stressed, frustrated, and deteriorating animals.

Dogs are being confined for long periods with:

 • Insufficient exercise

 • Little to no enrichment

 • No consistent playgroups

 • No decompression protocols

 • Minimal behavioral support

 • Inadequate trauma-informed handling

Long-term kennel confinement without enrichment is well known to cause anxiety, frustration, fear-based reactions, and behavioral decline. These conditions directly contribute to incidents that are later used to justify killing the dogs the shelter itself failed to protect.

Additionally, adopters are not being properly educated or prepared. There is a lack of transparency and guidance about:

 • The effects of prolonged shelter stress

 • Decompression periods after adoption

 • Safe transitions into new environments

 • Realistic expectations for traumatized dogs

This is not humane sheltering.  This is not best practice.  This is not acceptable.

Under Director Annette Jose’s leadership:

 • Bite incidents have escalated.  Incidents that have occurred at the shelter, in foster homes, during pawventures and with adopters. 

 • Dogs are being euthanized instead of supported

 • Preventative measures are ignored

 • The same failures repeat with no meaningful reform

• There is no transparency.  Dogs are being euthanized with no pleas issued giving them no chance for help.

Despite ongoing concerns raised by advocates, rescuers, and community members, nothing has changed. The environment remains harmful, and dogs continue to pay with their lives.

This is a failure of leadership, policy, and accountability.

We therefore demand:

 1. The immediate removal and resignation of Annette Jose as Director of MDAS

 2. An independent review of MDAS shelter conditions, bite incident data, and euthanasia decisions

 3. Immediate implementation of enrichment, exercise, playgroups, and decompression protocols

 4. Mandatory adopter education for long-term kenneled dogs

 5. Leadership committed to humane, evidence-based sheltering practices

Miami-Dade deserves a shelter system that reduces harm instead of creating it.  The dogs deserve better.  The community deserves transparency and leadership must be held accountable.  Enough is enough!!!  Change must happen now before more suffer the same fate as Jack, Max and Jerry 🌈🐾💔🕊️