LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- If you've ever lost your pet, you know the panic that settles in when you realize they're nowhere to be found.
That's why Lee County leaders and animal shelter management say they're introducing a new tool to help ease that fear.
On Tuesday, commissioners approved changes to the county's animal control ordinance, one of which includes a new Lee County Domestic Animal Services [LCDAS] 'Find My Pet Portal.'
"The goal of this tool is for pets to find their way home without ever having to enter the shelter," LCDAS Operations Manager Brandon Schribner said at a commission meeting on Tuesday.
The portal allows people to report missing pets or found animals.
The changes also require mandatory microchipping for pets leaving the shelter, which was not previously required by law.
District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman said these changes are a start.
"There are a lot of folks that are bringing animals to us at all times and we're trying to find the best way, the compassionate way, to care for those animals," Hamman said. "So, we're trying to put together an ordinance that works with the community."
Animal advocates who attended Tuesday's commission meeting say it's not enough. Many of them tell WINK Investigates the new rules don't touch on what they believe is the real problem: the hold times.
"We will never go away until we achieve justice for these pets," Laurie Hepner, an animal advocate, said at the meeting.
Concerns with hold times & euthanasia rates
Lee County's updated animal control ordinance 14-22 keeps hold times the same: 24 hours for cats without a microchip and three days for dogs that aren't chipped.
Animal advocates say they believe the shelter's euthanasia rates would go down if animals were given more time before a final decision was made.
"It's distressing and the animals are just going to suffer at the end of the day," Linda Shelmar, an animal advocate, said on Tuesday. "It's heartbreaking."
Data from the county's intake and outcome reports show that between January and July, LCDAS's euthanasia rate was 209 animals per 1,000 in its care. In May alone, data shows 213 dogs and cats were euthanized, more than any other month during that time period.
Even their lowest month, January, saw 127 euthanasias, data shows.
Assistant County Manager Marc Mora said the county wants to see its euthanasia rate go down too, which is why he says he's been meeting with other local shelters in the region.
"I actually took a trip up to Hillsborough and forged a relationship with an assistant county manager there and spent time at their shelter," he said. "In return, they came down to Lee County last month and toured our shelter."
He said getting the numbers down will require more money, staff and resources, such as additional community partnerships with other shelters and rescues.
"In reality, we don't have the resources, nor do we have the control over a lot of that," Mora said.
In September, commissioners approved the 2025-2026 budget, granting animal services more than $9.1 million in funding. That's an increase of over $1.1 million compared to the previous year.
The upcoming year's budget items don't include a breakdown of how the money will be spent, but last year's budget shows more than $8 million was spent on shelter operations, field operations, and spay & neuter services.
"We want people to hold on to their pet," Mora said. "We want them to care for them. We want them to be chipped. We want them to be vaccinated. I think that's the role that animal services really has to play in a community."
Building trust, transparency & changes
On Tuesday, advocates also said they're concerned that closed days and holidays are counted against animals at the shelter as hold days.
Commissioner Hamman asked LCDAS Director Pablo Adorno to clarify that at Tuesday's meeting.
"We don't count those as days," Adorno said. "We hold them beyond that."
But Shelmar said that's not what the county's website says.
"Remember, lost dogs can only be held for three consecutive days (without identification) or five consecutive days (with identification), including closed days and holidays," the county's website stated at the time. "Cats are held five consecutive days (with identification), including closed days and holidays."
Mora told WINK Investigates that the county plans to update its webpage with the correct information.
On Tuesday evening, the website no longer included any mention of holidays and closed days as counting towards stray holds.
"We'll make sure the website clarifies that," Mora said.
Ellis said she believes commissioners would be met with less skepticism if they passed more legislation based on community feedback and engagement.
"There's an issue with trust and transparency," she said.
Commissioner Hammon said he's hopeful county leaders and citizens can still work together to find a solution, even if it takes some time.
"I think even the people who were the most concerned about animals today acknowledge this problem is overwhelming," he said.
WINK Investigates is committed to following this story and will update you as we learn more.