LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The director of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services division was fired after officials said she did not follow proper policies when having animals euthanized.
Jacquelyn Johnston was hired Oct. 1 and was let go nine days later.
“Our administration was notified by a volunteer at Animal Services that up to 20 animals had been euthanized,” Sgt. Jim Vachon, a sheriff’s office spokesman, said. “Law enforcement, especially, has a healthy respect for animals and what they can contribute, so it's a tough thing to hear.”
Deputies said when Johnston was hired they were adamant that euthanizing could only happen under a last-resort policy, and that is why she was fired so soon after her employment date.
"A certain number of them were sick or injured, which would be in [accordance with] our policy," Sgt. Vachon said. "But certainly not all of them."
According to deputies, 18 dogs and two cats were put down under her direction in just one day.
Earlier this year, Lake County commissioners endorsed and approved a plan to have the Sheriff’s Office take over animal control after the resignation of two directors.
Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders released a statement on the firing of Johnston, saying, “This decision was made on our watch and we have taken swift action to ensure it does not happen again.”