Shelter volunteers say public records request responses were false after learning that 15 dogs were euthanized during training course at shelter

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After learning that 15 dogs were euthanized during a February training course at the Alachua County Animal Resources (ACAR) shelter, volunteers are now saying that they received inaccurate responses to public records requests; the fate of 11 more dogs is still unknown.

After a former Shelter Outreach Coordinator for ACAR sent a lengthy email to Alachua County Commissioners on March 2, alleging that “numerous” long-term dogs were sent to a “mysterious non-profit (operated by a person who conducts euthanasia trainings)” and the County would not release the name of the rescue organization, citing public records exemptions, the County announced on March 6 that it had opened an investigation into shelter operations.

However, volunteers continued to ask where the dogs had gone, and on March 10, County Attorney Sylvia Torres said her office had determined that no public records exemption protected the records from release.

11 dogs transferred to Emerald Shores Humane Society, microchips deleted

Public records later revealed that 11 dogs had been transferred to Emerald Shores Humane Society, but at the March 25 Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) meeting, committee members learned that microchip information about the dogs had been removed from a microchip database. Volunteers searched publicly accessible adoption sites in hopes of finding the dogs, but one volunteer told County Commissioners in an email that no trace of the dogs had been found. 

One volunteer wrote to County Commissioners that at least two of the dogs, 50 Cent and Lilly, were adoptable and were recalled from foster care homes to be transferred to Emerald Shores. Another volunteer spent time with two of the dogs, 50 Cent and Gala, a few days before the transfer, and she reported that they were both “happy and healthy.” The pictures above were reportedly taken at that time.

On March 26, an Administrative Assistant from ACAR provided an official but unsigned response that said the microchip information was removed because the dogs were no longer owned by ACAR, and “the expectation is that the receiving agency – or the eventual adopter – will register the chip.” The email insisted that there was no “malicious intent” in removing the microchips.

“They have been relocated to rescue facilities throughout the country”

On March 27, Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby wrote to one volunteer, “Emerald Shores Humane Society, a private non-profit organization, took legal possession of the 11 dogs transferred from ACAR along with all of their relevant paperwork. They have been relocated to rescue facilities throughout the country.”

Emerald Shores Humane Society is one of several organizations that are associated with Doug Eddins; ZooTrek, the company that reportedly transported the dogs, and American Animal Cruelty Investigations School, the company that conducted the February euthanasia training at the Alachua County animal shelter on February 22-23, are also reportedly associated with Eddins.

Volunteers eventually received a “Transfer Out Contract” dated February 24 that listed 10 dogs that were transferred to Emerald Shores Humane Society, including Lilly, Gala, and 50 Cent.

“All animals used in [euthanasia] training were provided by the trainer. No ACAR animals were used in this training.”

One volunteer submitted a public records request that asked for “A list of animals (including A number and name) used in training (including those euthanized before, during, or after training sessions) related to euthanasia training, or related instructional activities conducted in collaboration with Doug Eddins, or affiliated organizations (American Animal Cruelty Investigations School) in 2026.” On April 2, this response was received: “All animals used in training were provided by the trainer. No ACAR animals were used in this training.”

On April 3, Alachua County made a post on Facebook that claimed a live release rate of 93.96% for the first quarter of 2026, but when volunteers provided data from two different platforms that track euthanasia and asked for an explanation of the discrepancies, they were told that the records could not be provided because “an independent investigation is underway.”. As one volunteer responded, “If the figures were still under investigation, publishing them could be viewed as influencing the investigation. Therefore, the fact that the County promoted the number publicly suggests that the underlying data is not part of the pending investigation.”

Shelter volunteer: “We still don’t know what happened to the eleven dogs that have been at the center of this conversation, and now there are an additional fifteen dogs that are missing.”

On April 6, one volunteer wrote in an email to County Commissioners that she had received public records showing that 15 dogs were transferred to Emerald Shores on February 22, and a total of 26 dogs were transferred to Emerald Shores over a period of two days. She wrote, “We still don’t know what happened to the eleven dogs that have been at the center of this conversation, and now there are an additional fifteen dogs that are missing.” This volunteer added that an invoice for the transport of 11 dogs was provided by the County, but no transport records were provided for the 15 dogs transferred on February 22, “which suggests they never left the shelter.” This volunteer asked whether those 15 dogs were euthanized during the euthanasia training; in an April 7 email, she noted that the 15 dogs were from a dog-fighting case and were “unadoptable.”

County refuses to provide data supporting live release rate claims

On April 7, County Communications Director Mark Sexton responded to the volunteer, “An independent investigation is currently underway regarding complaints involving Animal Resources. To preserve the integrity of that process and avoid any appearance of influence, we are refraining from commenting on this matter until the investigation is complete.” 

The volunteer responded, “I am honestly baffled at this response. The County is boasting that ACAR had a live release rate (LRR) of 93.36% in the first quarter, yet the County is refusing to answer questions about the methods used to calculate that rate. The issue of the fifteen dogs is central to this conversation. If the County can brag about the LRR on social media, the County should be willing to answer questions about how the LRR was calculated.” Sexton responded, “I will refer to the County’s previous answer to your email.”

Commissioner Anna Prizzia steps up to get answers for volunteers

On April 9, County Commissioner Anna Prizzia offered to assist the volunteer with getting responses to her public records requests and added, “We do not have information on where the animals go once we transfer them to other organizations to assist with adoption… Staff have confirmed that the animals were transferred to Emerald Shores to be relocated to rescue facilities throughout the country.”

Commissioner Anna Prizzia: “The 15 dogs in question were dogfighting case animals that were euthanized as part of the euthanasia training course held at our shelter.”

On April 10, Prizzia wrote to the volunteer, “I have worked to get the information you requested. The 15 dogs in question were dogfighting case animals that were euthanized as part of the euthanasia training course held at our shelter. These dogs have been added to our euthanasia numbers for the first quarter of 2026. These dogs are part of the ongoing investigation, and no further information can be shared until the investigation has concluded.”

Volunteer: “ACAR asserted in a [public records request] that no ACAR animals were used in the euthanasia training. This was false. What can be done to ensure that PRRs are being filled according to law?”

The volunteer wrote back, “ACAR asserted in a [public records request] that no ACAR animals were used in the euthanasia training. This was false. What can be done to ensure that PRRs are being filled according to law?” The volunteer also asked for an assurance that no further animals would be transferred to Emerald Shores, and Prizzia responded, “At this time, pending the results of the ongoing investigation, no further animals will be transferred to Emerald Shores Humane Society, ZooTrek.”

Volunteer: “We now know that there have been both falsifying records… and, those at ACAR who have been answering PRRs are knowingly providing false information.”

A second volunteer brought up questions about which cats were used in the euthanasia training and summarized, “[M]y recent PRR (public records request) on this exact topic… from 4/2/2026, provided false information (“All animals used in training were provided by the trainer. No ACAR animals were used in this training.”)… We now know that there have been both falsifying records (that these 15 dogfighting dogs were transferred to ‘Emerald Shores Humane Society’ in the paperwork, reported as transfers in monthly reporting, and so forth) and, those at ACAR who have been answering PRRs are knowingly providing false information… There were multiple ACAR staff members that were part of this training and I think it’s a fair assumption that ALL staff members at ACAR knew which dogs were used in euthanasia training. That means there is a massive issue at ACAR with credibility and honesty. It also makes me wonder how wide does this reach within the County government? How many people on this email knew this information already?”

An Animal Welfare Advisory Committee presentation is on the agenda of the April 14 Alachua County Commission meeting, which begins at 11:30 a.m.