Petition to Establish a Mandatory 3-Day Hold for Unidentified Cats in Lee County, Florida

To:
Pablo Adorno, Director of Lee County Domestic Animal Services
Lee County Board of Commissioners: Kevin Ruane, Cecil Pendergrass, David Mulicka, Brian Hamman, Mike Greenwell
Lee County Manager David Harner
Lee County Assistant Manager Marc Mora

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We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Lee County government to implement a mandatory 72-hour (3-day) hold period for all cats brought into the custody of Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS) without identification. This policy would prevent the premature euthanasia of potentially owned pets and align Lee County with established best practices across Florida.

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Why a Hold Period is Necessary

In recent months, multiple tragic incidents have occurred in Lee County in which domestic cats—family pets—were euthanized within hours of intake due to the lack of identification. In one widely cited case, a cat was killed after being held for only two hours, denying the owners a reasonable chance to locate their missing pet.

Currently, there is no legally required holding period for unidentified cats in Lee County. This absence of policy directly results in preventable loss and heartbreak for pet owners.

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How Lee County Compares to Other Florida Jurisdictions

Numerous Florida counties already require a holding period for unidentified animals before euthanasia is permitted. These ordinances offer a model for responsible, humane, and legally sound animal control policy:
 - Broward County: Chapter 4, Section 4-5 mandates a minimum 3-day hold for unidentified cats and dogs, not counting holidays.
 - Polk County: Animal Control Ordinance 18-068, Section 9(a)(2) requires a 4-day minimum hold for healthy unidentified animals.
 - Miami-Dade County: Chapter 5, Section 5-6(c) stipulates a 5-day minimum hold for all impounded animals with certain exceptions.

Each of these jurisdictions recognizes that a holding period is vital to:
 - Reuniting lost pets with their owners;
 - Ensuring due process and humane treatment;
 - Reducing mistaken euthanasia of owned animals.

By contrast, Lee County’s lack of a mandatory holding period puts it out of step with accepted norms in animal welfare policy across the state.

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What We Are Asking For

We call on Lee County to immediately adopt the following policy reforms:
 1. A mandatory 72-hour holding period for all unidentified cats taken into custody by LCDAS, excluding cases of severe injury, illness, or documented aggression that require immediate euthanasia for public safety or humane reasons.
 2. Public notification of all incoming stray cats during the hold period, via the LCDAS website or a centralized database, to facilitate owner recovery.
 3. Revised internal procedures and staff training to ensure compliance and avoid premature euthanasia.
 4. Accountability measures, including a publicly accessible record of intakes, reclaim attempts, and euthanasia decisions.

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Legal Justification and Public Responsibility

A 3-day hold period is not only a moral imperative but also a practical legal measure to safeguard against wrongful destruction of property (pets are considered personal property under Florida law). Implementing this policy would reduce liability risk and improve community trust in Lee County Domestic Animal Services.

In adopting this change, Lee County would demonstrate leadership in responsible animal welfare and bring its practices in line with other Florida counties that have successfully implemented humane, legal safeguards.

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Conclusion

We urge Lee County officials to act swiftly in implementing a minimum 3-day holding period for unidentified cats. This simple, cost-effective policy change will save lives, prevent unnecessary heartbreak, and promote accountability in the administration of public animal services.