ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — Members of a Central Florida pet rescue group said they no longer trust Orange County's Animal Shelter. They say dogs dropped at the shelter, which are less likely to be adopted, are not cared for.
WFTV went inside the shelter to take a look.
Sky Korito has always had a soft spot for dogs, especially the ones nobody else wants.
"Everyone believed he was going to die any minute. I just believed he didn't want to," Korito said
Korito said she saved a 10-year-old dog named Boomer from the Orange County Animal Shelter.
"He wasn't the first dog we've taken out of there in a near-death situation," Korito said.
Korito is a member of Better Life Pet Rescue. Its members accuse Animal Services of neglecting unadoptable dogs once they arrive at the shelter.
"Because of his condition, because of his age, our vet just believed it was in the best interest of Boomer to consider humane euthanasia," Animal Services Manager Katherine Lockett said.
In Boomer's case, two different kennel employees alerted the vets to his condition.
Lockett said the well-being of every dog and cat in the shelter is closely monitored, but with 23,000 animals impounded every year, it's impossible to save them all.
"The rescue groups tend to understand that we don't have the financial means to invest thousands of dollars into saving this pet's life," Lockett said. "We do care about the animals here and we want to save as many as possible."
But pet rescue members, who saw Boomer shortly after he arrived at the shelter, insist he was healthy. A few days later, he was brought out to them on a stretcher.
"Not everything comes down to the money. Boomer didn't need money when he went in there. He needed a safe place to be, a little food and water until someone could adopt him," Korito said.
Since leaving the animal shelter in early September, Boomer has had 10 surgeries at a cost of more than $5,200, performed by veterinarians who offered substantial discounts. Orange County Animal Services said it simply cannot afford the care Boomer is now getting.
"My husband and I have adopted him. We are his forever home and we love him very much," Korito said.
His new owners say Boomer continues to improve and put on weight.
Orange County cut the animal shelter's budget by $400,000 this year to $6.7 million. The shelter adopts out between 3,500 and 4,000 pets every year.