We, the undersigned, demand that Manatee County Animal Welfare reinstate the 11 volunteers who were unjustly fired from the Manatee County Animal Welfare - Palmetto Adoption Center on July 3, 2023.

These volunteers have dedicated years of their time and energy to care for the animals at the shelter, and they deserve respect and appreciation, not dismissal without warning or explanation.

The county's action not only violated its own policy of giving volunteers an opportunity to discuss the reasons for possible dismissal, but also showed a lack of compassion and transparency.

We believe that these volunteers were fired for being whistleblowers who exposed animal neglect at the shelter, and that the county is trying to cover up its wrongdoing by silencing them.

We urge the county to reverse its decision and apologize to the volunteers, and to conduct a thorough investigation into the conditions and practices at the shelter.

We also call on the county to collaborate with regional partners and animal behavior experts to improve the physical and mental well-being of the animals in its care, and to adopt a more positive and supportive environment for volunteers.

The volunteers are the backbone of the shelter, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and gratitude. The animals deserve better too.

Please sign and share this petition to show your support for the fired volunteers and the animals at the Palmetto Adoption Center / Manatee County Animal Welfare.  For more information, contact the shelter director, Sarah Brown, and ask why at 941-742-5933.   

Please email Lee.Washington@mymanatee.org, George.Kruse@mymanatee.org and jodie.fiske@mymanatee.org and ask why these dedicated volunteers were terminated and what is going to be done to address this issue and the issues with the Manatee County Shelter.   Thank you.