ACAR report finds current management to be ‘sound and reasonable,’ makes recommendations for improvement

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An independent investigation into whistleblower allegations against the Alachua County Animal Resources Department (ACAR) found that most of the allegations were unsubstantiated or did not occur under current management; some recommendations were made to improve operations.

Click here to read the report.

The County hired Stephanie Marchman from GrayRobinson to conduct an independent investigation in response to a March 2 email from a former employee at the animal shelter; the allegations were summarized in our March 5 article (click here to read the article).

Marchman found that “while the allegations in the Complaint are deeply concerning, the evidence gathered during this investigation demonstrates there is no need for the [County] or the public to be deeply concerned about the condition or management of ACAR. It was apparent from our witness interviews which included members of the public, volunteers, staff, and management, that they all intensely care for the animals in the County’s custody. Further, based on our site visit, witness interviews, and records obtained and reviewed in this investigation, we find that the current condition and management of ACAR appears to be sound and reasonable. Indeed, ACAR has resources and programs not commonly found in many southern animal shelters. Examples of these are true separate housing spaces for medical isolation, on-site medical facilities with trained veterinary staff, and inclusion of a credentialed on-staff behaviorist.”

The report acknowledges “nuggets of truth” in the whistleblower complaint, but the investigation found that “many of the allegations… occurred prior to Gina Peebles and Brittany D’Azzo becoming a part of ACAR’s leadership team in 2025.”

The investigation found no violation of any law, rule, or regulation committed by any current County employee that presented any danger to the public and no gross mismanagement or gross neglect of duty by any current County employee. “Instead, we believe that the County employees named in the Complaint and those currently working at ACAR should be commended for their service. With that said, there is always room for more resources and improvement, and we will identify those opportunities in this report” [bold in original].

“Lynching ladies”

The report substantiated a complaint that Peebles referred to volunteers as “lynching ladies” after the volunteers publicly criticized her on social media; Marchman wrote, however, that “there was no indication that her use of this phrase had anything to do with race… With that said, the term ‘lynch’… carries heavy historical and racial trauma… Accordingly, Ms. Peebles’ use of the term to describe her situation… is insensitive and inappropriate… It is recommended that her use of this term ‘lynching ladies’ be addressed with Ms. Peebles as the County deems appropriate.”

Rat infestation

The report also substantiated a complaint about a rat infestation but said there is “no finding of ACAR falling below the expected standard of care for an animal shelter… Pest management is a frequent concern in animal shelters and a commonly requested consultation.”

Cat deaths

A complaint that “numerous cats have died on the shelter’s property” was “largely substantiated,” but the report found that ACAR did not violate the law or fall below the expected standard of care for an animal shelter.

Ferrets kept as “emotional support pets” for staff

A complaint that two ferrets were blocked from rescue transfer and kept as “emotional support pets” for staff was substantiated, but Marchman reported that the previous ACAR Director, Julie Johnson, adopted two ferrets and kept them in the office area as “emotional support pets” while staff cared for them. When she was terminated, the ferrets were transferred to a rescue.

Gia the German Shepherd

A complaint that prompt medical care was not provided to Gia the German Shepherd was “partially substantiated in suggesting that rapid care was not provided to Gia but unsubstantiated to the extent that… [the] delay of care was intentional.”

Other allegations regarding the care of specific animals were “unsubstantiated to the extent they suggest wrongdoing by current ACAR staff.”

Dogs transferred for euthanasia training

Regarding an allegation that dogs were transferred to an organization that conducts euthanasia training, Marchman wrote, “It is accurate that a euthanasia course was provided to 9 ACAR staff members [on] February 22, 2026. As stated elsewhere in this report, euthanasia is necessary in animal shelters, and staff must be trained and certified to carry out this function. It is also accurate that it was an ideal time to hold the course because a number of case dogs had been ordered by the Court to be euthanized on January 16, 2026. The appeal time for such an order is 30 days, so the case dogs needed to be held by ACAR in kennels until the time to appeal expired, or until February 15, 2026. Accordingly, it was not unreasonable to hold case dogs who were ordered to be euthanized for one week for purposes of the course… [T]his transfer was done not to ‘fix’ ACAR’s live release numbers. It was done because the trainer would be supplying the controlled drugs used during the euthanasia course. The dogs were transferred to the trainer’s organization so they could be added to his euthanasia drug log and submitted under his DEA license, which is standard protocol for these types of courses.”

Recommendations

Marchman recommended eight actions (abbreviated below) for the County’s consideration:

• Take reasonable security measures to keep ACAR employees safe and refrain from making personnel decisions based on unsubstantiated allegations or public outcry;
• Evaluate the “driving ambition” behind the “no-kill” goal of the shelter and do not prioritize statistics over welfare decisions;
• Adopt the 5 Domains of animal welfare;
• Provide regular training to ACAR employees on animal care and cleaning;
• Do not code euthanasia as owner-requested unless they are actually owner-requested and use “lost” only for animals that can no longer be physically accounted for;
• Consider shifting the behaviorist role from outreach to medical;
• Be more transparent about the process for establishing rescue partners;
• Consider asking the new leadership to meet with volunteers to establish trust.

Commissioner Wheeler requests meeting of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

At the end of today’s County Commission Special Meeting, Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler asked whether the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) would be included in conversations about the report. Assistant County Manager Heather Akpan said the next meeting of the board is in August, and County Manager Michele Lieberman said the County Commission is in the process of hiring a consultant for a “soup to nuts” evaluation of shelter operations, and that consultant could help evaluate the recommendations in the investigative report and determine whether “that is the appropriate approach to take.”

Lieberman said every candidate she interviewed for the Shelter Director position said, “We don’t say ‘no kill’ anymore.” She added, “I do think there’s been a shift in philosophy,… but it would be nice to hear those opinions and those thoughts from those who are experts in those areas.”

Wheeler said she was specifically asking for a meeting of AWAC to discuss the investigative report, “so they have a chance to process what happened, as a group… It looks like they’ve been bypassed.” Akpan said the County could do that.