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Resident tells Dade County officials 2,937 calls in year over free-roaming dogs, urges action
Summary
During the public comment period a resident said they received 2,937 calls in the past 12 months about free-roaming dogs, describing shootings, neglect, disease and public-safety risks, and asked Dade County to join efforts to improve animal welfare.
A resident who spoke during the public comment period said Dade County is facing a growing problem with free-roaming dogs and called on county officials to act, saying they received 2,937 calls for help in the last 12 months.
"County has a problem. In the last 12 months, I have gotten 2,937 calls for help," the speaker said, adding that dogs "roam freely, causing mass suffering and neglect. They are constantly hit by cars and left for dead. They will sit for days on the side of the road suffering."
The speaker described multiple cases of dogs being shot and left to suffer, saying, "Pets are being shot for the simple act of walking onto the wrong property. Bert was shot in the face, and for 3 days, he couldn't eat or drink. Unfortunately it was too late for him. He's not the only 1." The speaker said many animals they take in show signs of injury and disease: "100 percent of the dogs I've taken have injuries, are covered with fleas and ticks, full of intestinal parasites, And riddled with a long list of diseases, which are often contagious to humans."
The speaker also raised economic barriers to care and repeated litters from free-roaming animals as drivers of abandonment and neglect, saying some owners "cannot afford life saving vet care" and that dogs often live in "filthy environments" or are left locked away indoors. They described both recurring harms and occasional success stories from rescue efforts.
The comment concluded with a direct appeal to county officials: "I am asking that Dade County becomes a part of the solution with me. It's time to raise the bar for animal welfare, not just for the animals, but for the safety of the citizens as well." The transcript provided does not record any formal response or motion by county officials on the record.
Because this account came during public comment, it represents a citizen appeal and description of observed problems; the transcript does not show any staff report, ordinance, or vote tied to these remarks.
