If Dr. Elton Gissendanner had his way, every dog and cat in the United States would be microchipped. ...more

November 9, 2009

In the past fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, complaint calls handled by Highlands County Animal Control grew by 21 percent over the previous year, shooting up to 7,730. ...more

November 24, 2008

No, really it's true! Anyone thinking they saw a 2,000- pound Black Angus bull in their yard Friday morning probably weren't imagining it. ...more

July 26, 2008

SEBRING — Darryl Scott, director of Highlands County Animal Control, still hopes to find the person who dumped off a malnourished horse in the middle of a road near Lake Placid back on March 28. Whether or not that person is caught, though, Scott is trying to place the horse in a good adoptive home. ...more

May 9, 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

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

SEBRING –– Visit Highlands County Animal Services today and you'll find two peacocks in a dog pen. You can also see two large hogs in a horse trailer. Plus four rabbits, huddled together in the corner of a wire dog crate. And then Darryl Scott, Animal Control director, can walk you past the dog and cat pens to see the two yearling cows he's holding in a small, wood fenced pen. "Just last week, we had chickens and ducks, too," Scott said. "We were able to get them out, by adoption." ...more

November 2, 2007

AVON PARK — When Dan Evers showed up to work Monday morning, he thought someone was playing a joke on him. A 9-foot Burmese python was stretched out along the sidewalk, snuggled against the wall of his State Farm Insurance office at 706 Main St. "I was looking around for the cameras," Evers said. "Then it lifted its head just a little, and I realized this was no joke." ...more

October 2, 2007