JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Local animal rescue officials expressed concern about the welfare of several English Bulldogs after Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) allowed multiple dogs to remain in outdoor kennels during extreme heat conditions.
Michele Higham, owner of Paw Paws Rescue Ranch and Sanctuary, questioned ACPS’s decision to remove only one critically ill dog while leaving 13 others at a Westside property during temperatures reaching the 90s.
“Someone at ACPS owes the public an explanation on why ACPS allowed it at 4:17 PM Friday, to drive off the property and leave 13 dogs out in the heat,” Higham said.
The situation unfolded Thursday night when a concerned citizen contacted Higham about a sick English Bulldog. Upon investigating during daylight hours, Higham discovered what appeared to be a suspected breeding operation.
“There were English Bulldogs that were in outdoor kennels with mud, if they even had water in the buckets. Food dishes were tipped over,” Higham reported. A
Animal experts note that English Bulldogs face particular risks in hot weather, being especially susceptible to life-threatening heat stroke.
After Higham alerted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, animal control officers responded to the scene. They removed one severely ill dog, which was later euthanized due to a life-threatening tumor.
Animal Control Chief Michael Bricker defended the agency’s actions, stating that officers had spoken with an on-site caretaker while the property owner was hospitalized.
“That caretaker listened to everything we asked them to do,” Bricker said. “We asked her to take some of the dogs inside. She did. We asked her to make some changes to their outside enclosures to make them more habitable for those English Bulldogs, and she did. She changed the water. She took care of everything.”
According to Bricker, the agency reviewed medical records showing the dogs were current on veterinary care, including vaccinations and preventative treatments for fleas and heartworms.
Higham returned Saturday to check on the animals, finding them still exposed to high temperatures. By Sunday, both the dogs and outdoor kennels had vanished from the property.
ACPS officials confirmed they do not know the current location of the remaining dogs. Higham emphasized her primary concern is confirming the animals are no longer kept outdoors in dangerous heat conditions.
The property owner, who is currently in hospice care, has not been identified by officials.