Residents urge investigation into Lake City Humane Society; council schedules workshop on animal-control contract

Dozens of residents and former employees pressed the Lake City City Council on April 6 to investigate management and spending at the Lake City Humane Society, saying animals and staff have suffered and urging the city to use its contract oversight to force improvements.

"We have plenty of proof of the things that are going on there. We are just requesting that somebody look into it," said Kim Jackson during the public-comment portion of the meeting, telling the council a petition of nearly 1,000 signatures seeks a legal inquiry into alleged ordinance violations, early euthanasia and misused donations.

Former kennel lead Caitlyn Davenport described working seven days a week at just-above-minimum wage and recounted heat, unsafe kennels and staff bullying. "This community deserves better," Davenport said, naming animals she said had been euthanized despite being savable.

Other speakers, including former employee Roy Armstrong and rescue professionals who traveled from neighboring counties, echoed allegations that donors’ money was spent on front-office amenities while kennels and animal care needs remained unmet.

City staff and the police chief told the council they have received multiple complaints and are taking steps to get better evidence and oversight. The police chief explained that the city had asked the humane-society director for financial reports required by the contract and said the department has not yet received a complete set of annual financials. He recommended contract changes including a shorter emergency response window (from one hour to 30 minutes during business hours), two licensed animal-control officers on duty, background checks and police-issued ID for ACOs, and monthly activity reports to the police department.

"We have not received [the financial report]. The director stated she is putting one together and we should have the financials for the last year soon," the chief said during council discussion, adding his office of professional standards will review compliance and use-of-service issues tied to the agreement.

Council members said they will schedule a workshop to review the contract, evaluate whether to reissue a request for proposals when the current contract expires on Sept. 30 and consider operational changes such as more proactive patrols, spay/neuter initiatives and clearer reporting requirements. Several council members stressed that the Humane Society is a separate nonprofit and that the city cannot directly remove or appoint nonprofit board members.

Mayor Noah Walker said the city will convene a workshop "here in the next month or so" to brief council and the public on contract performance and options. "We need to know if we're going to pursue continuing the contract or pursue a request for proposal," one council member said.

The council did not take immediate enforcement action that night, but the scheduled workshop and the chief’s list of contractual changes give the council a clear path to either renegotiate the contract or pursue a different provider before the current agreement expires.