News and Investigations

Best Friends Animal Society and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services have come together to save vulnerable kittens through a new shelter diversion and foster program. Kittens brought into Polk County Animal Services or found without mothers by the public will be fostered by local volunteers until they are old enough to be spayed/neutered and adopted, which is typically around two months or two pounds. Through this new program, the groups hope to save 500 kittens by December 31. 
 
Animal Services has been dedicated to increasing the lifesaving programs at the shelter, but it takes a village to save them all. Best Friends, a national animal welfare organization, has been collaborating with the shelter for several years, and established the new foster program in March.   
 
"Our goal is to supplement the work that Polk County Animal Services and other dedicated rescue organizations in Polk County are already doing,” said Fraily Rodriguez, Director of Lifesaving Centers, Best Friends Animal Society. “We saw there was a lifesaving opportunity in the system with the youngest of kittens who are the most vulnerable and resource intensive in a shelter because of the round-the-clock care they require. With the community’s support, we can increase lifesaving for them and make a tangible difference for pets in Polk County." 
 
“We are excited about this new joint venture with Best Friends and our animal rescue partners,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “Our citizens are caring and resourceful—we know that with the right structure in place, we can help these kittens find forever homes.” 
 
Foster families, transport drivers and adoption ambassadors are needed for the new program. Those interested in helping can email fosterpolk@bestfriends.org for more information. When kittens from the program are available for adoption they will be listed on bestfriends.org/polkcounty. 
 
About Best Friends Animal Society 
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 625,000. 
Best Friends runs lifesaving programs all across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,200 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org. 
 
 CLICK HERE for a video of Sheriff Judd discussing this partnership.