Residents allege record falsification at Alachua County animal shelter; county launches independent probe

Dozens of residents and volunteers pressed the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners on April 14 with detailed allegations that managers at the county animal shelter falsified records, used questionable outside rescues for transfers and improperly categorized euthanasia events.

Pamela Blacetti, who presented a timeline and document excerpts to the commission, said 15 ACAR dogs were transferred on paper to a rescue and then used in an on-site euthanasia training in late February and that another 11 dogs were moved to a contractor’s transport company. "These records were falsified by ACAR's management," Blacetti said, citing invoices and transfer logs and specific dates. She also detailed a $1,925 transport charge (about $175 per dog) and a $5,575 instructor invoice tied to euthanasia training.

Volunteers and foster partners said the transfers included animals that had been thriving in foster care. Catherine Maguire of All Paws Pet Kennel described two dogs, Lily and "50 Cent," that volunteers had been caring for and said they were returned to the shelter and then transferred to an outside operator; she said repeated outreach failed to locate them. "Those dogs were taken from our care and likely killed," Maguire said.

Shelter-watchers and a former kennel technician also flagged a sharp rise in owner-requested euthanasia (ORE) this quarter. Chris Deutsch, reviewing records released via public records requests, said 38 dogs were recorded as ORE from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2026, including 17 in March alone — a spike he described as "real" and requiring a records audit.

County management acknowledged the public outcry and described steps already under way. County Manager Michelle Lieberman told the board the county had engaged an independent Florida-licensed attorney to investigate the allegations and that staff had revised owner-surrender paperwork to make euthanasia intentions clearer. "This issue is not being ignored," Lieberman said, adding that she had four assistant county managers and two department directors focused on shelter oversight while the process proceeds. She said staff had been instructed to stop using Emerald Shores as a transfer partner at least during the investigation.

The county said the investigator will determine scope and witnesses; staff emphasized that the investigation is independent and that the county will provide records and information to the investigator. The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) reported that criminal enforcement and investigations related to animals will be transferred to the sheriff's office with three investigators, effective May 8, 2026.

What happens next: the independent investigator will schedule interviews and review records; the county is holding finalist interviews for a new shelter director April 20, and a veterinarian hire was announced to start in early May. Commissioners said they will not pre-judge allegations and urged patience while the probe completes.

Clarifying details from the record include: an alleged 15 dogs tied to a February euthanasia class, 11 additional dogs transferred on Feb. 24, 2026; a transport charge to Zootrek of $1,925; invoices noted in public records totaling $5,575 for instructor and travel; and a county internal figure cited by a speaker that 38 OREs occurred in Q1 2026. The county has not yet produced a definitive public accounting of the outcomes of those transfers; the independent investigation is expected to examine the specifics.

No formal personnel removals or criminal findings were taken at the meeting; county attorneys and management said any disciplinary or criminal determinations will follow the investigator’s report.

The board urged transparency about public records responses going forward, and asked staff to work with community partners and volunteers while the investigation proceeds.