Demand Urgent Reform at Miami-Dade’s Medley Animal Shelter to Prevent Heat-Related Deaths
Demand Urgent Reform at Miami-Dade’s Medley Animal Shelter to Prevent Heat-Related Deaths
The Issue
To: Miami-Dade County Commission, Miami-Dade Animal Services, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and Governor Ron DeSantis
We, the undersigned, are calling for urgent action to protect animals housed at the Medley animal shelter, an outdoor overflow facility operated by Miami-Dade Animal Services. This shelter lacks proper temperature control systems and has recorded internal temperatures between 86°F and 93°F—conditions that are dangerous and potentially fatal for dogs.
A dog named Rocky has already reportedly died from heat stroke on July 20, 2025, although he was not the first, and volunteers have documented the extreme heat. Although seven industrial-sized fans have been donated to the shelter, only two are currently in use. This is unacceptable.
The Medley facility is out of compliance with humane temperature standards outlined by:
• The Humane Society of the United States
• The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Miami-Dade County Ordinance § 5-9, which requires indoor animal housing to maintain temperatures between 50°F and 85°F
Even though the Medley shelter is outdoors, the county has a duty to install and operate sufficient equipment—such as fans, misting systems, shade structures, and temperature monitoring tools—to ensure animals are protected from heat-related suffering and death.
We Demand:
• Full utilization of all donated cooling equipment
• Installation of additional temperature control systems to meet humane standards
• Daily public reporting of shelter temperatures
• An independent investigation into the reported heat-related death
• A long-term plan to relocate animals to climate-safe facilities during extreme weather
• Transparent use of allocated budgets to prioritize animal welfare, staffing, and facility safety
• Updated and humane medical protocols, including appropriate treatment and timely veterinary care
• Accountability and transparency in public communications, including social media outreach and adoption efforts
1,317
The Issue
To: Miami-Dade County Commission, Miami-Dade Animal Services, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and Governor Ron DeSantis
We, the undersigned, are calling for urgent action to protect animals housed at the Medley animal shelter, an outdoor overflow facility operated by Miami-Dade Animal Services. This shelter lacks proper temperature control systems and has recorded internal temperatures between 86°F and 93°F—conditions that are dangerous and potentially fatal for dogs.
A dog named Rocky has already reportedly died from heat stroke on July 20, 2025, although he was not the first, and volunteers have documented the extreme heat. Although seven industrial-sized fans have been donated to the shelter, only two are currently in use. This is unacceptable.
The Medley facility is out of compliance with humane temperature standards outlined by:
• The Humane Society of the United States
• The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Miami-Dade County Ordinance § 5-9, which requires indoor animal housing to maintain temperatures between 50°F and 85°F
Even though the Medley shelter is outdoors, the county has a duty to install and operate sufficient equipment—such as fans, misting systems, shade structures, and temperature monitoring tools—to ensure animals are protected from heat-related suffering and death.
We Demand:
• Full utilization of all donated cooling equipment
• Installation of additional temperature control systems to meet humane standards
• Daily public reporting of shelter temperatures
• An independent investigation into the reported heat-related death
• A long-term plan to relocate animals to climate-safe facilities during extreme weather
• Transparent use of allocated budgets to prioritize animal welfare, staffing, and facility safety
• Updated and humane medical protocols, including appropriate treatment and timely veterinary care
• Accountability and transparency in public communications, including social media outreach and adoption efforts
1,317
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Petition created on July 22, 2025