This review is relating to Hernando County Animal Control dispatch and Officer โNewburnโ. I called and spoke with dispatch to report a house that I went to in an attempt to help a mentally ill woman dealing with memory issues. These memory issues were causing her to forget to feed her animals and take them out. She had approximately 10+ animals in the home including dogs and cats of various ages. She said she didnโt even know how many cats because they would reproduce in a ditch behind her home and come in and out all day. She consistently would lose track of her dogs and cats. She kept forgetting where her dogs were and she would leave them in the garage with no AC.
Only two of the animals had just rabies shots and nothing else. None of the animals were spayed or neutered and just reproducing in and around the outside of the house. The most recent was an 11 year old female dog that had 4 puppies and one of them died. They just opened their eyes. Covered in fleas. Mom is not getting proper nutrition and fleas are eating her alive as well. The house was infested with fleas, smelled heavily of cigarette smoke, urine, and all of the litter boxes were filled with feces to the top. They clearly had not been cleaned in weeks or months. The cats and dogs were using the bathroom throughout the house. It is a health hazard and six kids are living in the home.
The woman told me clearly multiple times that she did not want any of the animals because of her health issues and lack of funds. I contacted the county in hopes I could get assistance for these animals that have no voice and cannot help themselves. I received zero help from Officer Newburn and he did nothing to help the animals. Dispatch also left out very important details that I had to explain to the officer which was ridiculous.
The officer had zero passion for what he does. No empathy for the animals at all. Cold as ice. He sounded bored, argumentative, and did not care at all about the animals. He didnโt even the do the bare minimum to ensure their wellbeing.
He confirmed that he did not go in the home. He did not even ask to go into the home. Knowing this woman, she would have invited him in if he had asked. He did not get eyes on all of the animals and did not confirm how many animals were in the home. I gave descriptions about all of the animals I knew of. He saw one dog and one cat and that was it and they were out front. He didnโt see ANY of the other animals or ask to see them. He didnโt check on the newborn puppies or the elderly mother that almost died giving birth. He did not provide this woman with any resources of places she could take the pets to be surrendered. I provided low cost vet info and rescues to her after hearing how useless he was. He did NOTHING. He said โthey look happy and healthyโ. Makes me sick. I know we are in the south. The laws are a joke for animals. However, it was truly horrific to hear how little he cared and the fact that he did nothing.
Iโve worked in rescue my entire life. I know the laws and I know animal control officers and they have ways, legally, to help animals. This officer confirmed without hesitation that he didnโt even ask to see the animals I called about. He didnโt even ask to go into the house. Nothing. The county is failing animals miserably if this is the best they can do. Animals canโt speak. See something say something is a thing and it works, only if the government and those in power care enough to actually do their job and do something.
This officer does not care and did nothing to help these animals who will continue to suffer thanks to him. Animal advocates in the community are out here doing YOUR job. Picking up loose dogs, trying to save animals in horrific situations, giving resources, and networking because you wonโt. Itโs not that you canโt, you wonโt.
You donโt get creative, you donโt ask the right questions, you donโt do anything because you donโt care. Itโs disgusting. I guess Hernando County Animal Services is just as bad as PCAS which is very sad. So many animals...
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