TAMPA - A Largo woman was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty after deputies found 17 dogs living in their own waste in her deteriorating home, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said. ...more

February 19, 2008

Raccoons have put Hernando County under a rabies watch for the last three years. ...more

February 1, 2008

After nine days of missing our dog, Buster has finally returned home safely, and we couldn't be happier. We would like to express our deep appreciation for everyone who took time out of their busy lives to look for him, spread the word of his disappearance, or just simply showed concern. When Buster first went missing last Friday, we went out and told everyone we could about our plight. We were extremely overjoyed and delighted with the way our community rallied around us with overwhelming support. Special thanks go out to all residents of Sun 'n Lake of Sebring, especially those of: Woods and Irons and Deer Run, The News-Sun, Heartland Association of Realtors, Dog Designs by Dana, Tony Gonzalez, The Ross', Highlands County Animal Control, all employees of Exit Realty All Stars, all fellow Realtors, Sun 'n Lake security, Highlands County Sheriff's Office, 105.7 FM, Daniel Barber, Reliable Sanitation, UPS, The Sun 'n Lake Golf Association, Lindsey Young and Sammuel and Terry Varis. Again thank you so very much as we couldn't have found Buster without everyone's help. ...more

January 25, 2008

SEBRING — Nobody at Highlands County Animal Control knows how old Harley is. The five staff members do know that this old, slow, sway-backed horse is well beyond 20 years old. And they know the veterinarian's prognosis – while Harley can't run anymore he can sometimes get up to a fast walk. This elderly horse spends his days in a six-acre pasture, and usually speeds up when he's called in for his feed by John Smith, a native of Kent, England, who is the supervisor of the animal control officers. "Harley was here when I came," said former sheriff's deputy and Fish & Game warden Darryl Scott, who will complete his first year as director of county animal control in February. ...more

January 20, 2008

AVON PARK — An Avon Park man and woman were free Thursday on $3,000 bail each, charged in connection with an animal cruelty case dating back to July. Nathanel "Nate" Rashaard Littles, 31, and Peruisa Faye Mack, 30, both of 1437 Winegard Ave., Avon Park, were each charged on warrants with three counts of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to animals (dogs). They were arrested Wednesday at the Highlands County Jail. It was Friday, July 27, when the Highlands County Sheriff's Office sent Deputy Kelly White to investigate a complaint of animal cruelty at the Winegard Avenue address. ...more

January 5, 2008

Pasco County Animal Services and technician Troy Lamson are wrapping up 2007 with high honors. ...more

December 28, 2007

Howard Bethel didn't want to give up his dogs, but faced with hundreds of dollars in fines and perhaps thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, he loaded six of the pets into the white animal control van. ...more

December 12, 2007

TAMPA - Howard Bethel didn't want to give up his dogs, but faced with hundreds of dollars in fines and perhaps thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, he loaded six of the pets into the white van. ...more

December 12, 2007

SEBRING – Getting six veterinarians, representing each of the six small-animal veterinary practices in Highlands County, together in one room for a meeting doesn't sound like a big deal. That is, until you hear Dr. Mark Griffin, of Lake Forest Veterinary Clinic in Avon Park, explain that he had never heard of such a meeting ever being held in Highlands County. "This is a monumental day," Griffin said shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday, as he and five other veterinarians wrapped up a two-hour meeting at the Highlands County Government Center. ...more

December 10, 2007

SEBRING — Highlands County Animal Control is looking a bit like Old McDonald's Farm these days, due to the recent series of marijuana growhouse busts. Animal control recently picked up 15 sheep following a growhouse raid by the sheriff's office. The day after the sheep were impounded, workers at animal control discovered they had a 16th sheep in their care. "Overnight, one of the sheep gave birth, and we have a baby lamb here now, too," said Darryl Scott, animal control director. Pens and pasture areas at the county facility are also sheltering three horses, three large hogs, four rabbits, a chicken, two yearling cows, and an 8-foot-long Burmese python. Many, but far from all, of these animals came into the county's care from growhouse raids. ...more

December 7, 2007