Broward County Animal Care is responsible for responding to animal emergencies, neglect, abandonment, and abuse. However, low reported call volumes should not be mistaken for a lack of need. Because Animal Care is not widely known as the primary point of contact—and because many residents fear retaliation when reporting abuse—the number of calls received does not accurately reflect the true scale of animal suffering in our community.
In reality, incidents of neglect, abandonment, and animal abuse have increased to a level that exceeds current staffing and resources. This strain extends beyond County operations. Animal rescues throughout Broward County are overflowing, overwhelmed, and struggling to remain open amid limited space and rising medical costs. As County and rescue resources become stretched, community members are increasingly relying on one another—begging for donations, coordinating fundraisers, and pooling personal resources simply to keep rescues operating and animals fed and treated. At the same time, more and more residents are actively raising awareness by sharing information about abuse prevention, spay and neuter options, and affordable veterinary care. While this grassroots effort reflects the compassion of our community, it is not a sustainable substitute for adequately funded public services and effective enforcement. As a result, animals remain in harmful conditions longer, residents lose confidence in reporting urgent concerns, and rescue organizations are pushed beyond capacity. These challenges reinforce one another and create a cycle that current resources cannot adequately address.

We, the constituents and supporters of Broward County, respectfully call on the Broward County Commission to:
• Increase funding for Broward County Animal Care, including staffing, investigative, and response
resources;
• Strengthen enforcement capacity for animal cruelty, neglect, and abandonment cases;
• Allow anonymous or confidential reporting options for urgent animal abuse complaints, so
residents can report safely without fear of retaliation. Many of us deeply love dogs and cats and recognize them as sentient beings—capable of suffering, fear, and distress. They deserve humane treatment, timely intervention, and a system that allows residents and authorities
to act before suffering escalates. They also deserve shelter environments that are safe and that support and allow these animals the time to receive proper foster and adoption.
Protecting animals also protects public health, community safety, and community trust. Broward County can do better—with the right support.