Animal advocates step up challenge to shelter policy

HALLANDALE BEACH — If the director of Broward County’s animal shelter has friends in Hallandale Beach, they didn’t have the microphone Tuesday night.

A meeting called by three city officials from Hallandale Beach and Hillsboro Beach had a clear mission: figure out how to push the director, Emily Wood, out of her director role amid scrutiny of shelter policy.

“Right now our focus in here is to figure out how we’re going to get rid of Emily,” Hallandale Beach Commissioner Michele Lazarow told an audience of about 40 at the Hallandale Beach Cultural Community Center. She was accompanied by Hallandale Vice Mayor Anabelle Lima-Taub and Hillsboro Beach Mayor Deb Tarrant during the event.

An outspoken animal activist and critic of Wood, Lazarow announced a “scorched earth” campaign against the animal shelter director. Wood incensed animal rights activists due to a controversial policy that limits new intakes for stray dogs, with residents encouraged to leave them on the street instead of taking them to the shelter.

County officials have said that leaving the dogs in the neighborhood where they’re roaming can help them get back home, or good Samaritans can help find the owners. “We do encourage individuals, law enforcement, nonprofit partners and other stakeholders to assist in returning pets to their owners instead of dropping them off at the shelter straight away,” Assistant County Administrator Michael Ruiz has said. “This improves a pet’s chances to return home.”

Wood, who said she didn’t listen in to Tuesday’s meeting, said Wednesday that she was open to hearing the advocates’ concerns and discussing the issues.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Lazarow made it clear that she didn’t mind dragging Broward’s county commissioners into the fray if necessary. “I think we’re beyond approaching these commissioners in a rational way,” Lazarow said.