Save Escambia County Animal Rescues

 

ZONING ISSUES FOR ANIMAL RESCUES IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL

  • ALL of the animal rescues and shelters in Escambia County are in violation of zoning regulations, including the Escambia County Animal Shelter. 
    In 2015, a definition of "Animal Shelter" was added to EscCo zoning codes that extremely limits zoning for this type of organization to Rural Residential (RR) or Agricultural (AGR). The County Animal Shelter is in HC/LI zoning which allows for Conditional Use of an animal shelter if approved by the BCC.
  • Suggested amendment to the definition of “Animal Shelter” and add a new definition for “Dog and Cat Rescues” as follows:
    • "Animal Shelter".
      A facility used to house or board stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted animals and that is operated by a public agency or a recognized nonprofit organization devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals. Provided however that this definition does not include certain dog and cat rescues as defined in this article.
    • "Dog and Cat Rescues”.
      Facilities that temporarily house abandoned, abused or homeless dogs and cats in a home like setting until a permanent home can be found for them.  Such rescues must be operated discreetly by nonprofit organizations dedicated to animal welfare on private property. Such rescues are not open to the general public or identified through on-site signage. Such activity traditionally falls within permitted residential uses and are therefore recognized as such.
  • Escambia County Attorney has no objections to the proposed amendment. In hopes of resolving this issue, we have been talking with the County Attorney, Alison Rogers. She has reviewed our proposed amendment to Sec. 6-0.3 of the Land Development Code and has no objections but she explained that neither the County Attorney nor Planning and Zoning can give authorization to amend an ordinance.  That authorization must come from one of the commissioners by directing Planning and Zoning to draft an ordinance amending the LDC. We’re at the point where we the help of the BCC in making these changes happen.
  • Most dog and cat rescues in Escambia County foster animals in private home.  Animal Allies and other rescues in Escambia County foster cats and dogs in private homes. The animals are contained on the property. The homes are not open to the public. There is no sign in front because we don’t want people to know where we are so they can’t dump animals in our yards. This is much different than an Animal Shelter that is open to the public and should be defined differently.
  • Does Escambia County want all of the dog and cat rescues to move out of the county? 
    As it currently stands, all of the animal welfare organizations either have to move out of the county or to north of the paper mill. We did a search on available properties with the current zoning restrictions, and the only properties available were north of the paper mill. It’s hard enough to get volunteers south of I-10. If all of the rescues had to leave the county, the Esc Co Animal Shelter would be inundated with dogs and cats and any hopes of becoming No Kill would die, along with the animals.
  • What you can do to help 
    Please respectfully contact your Escambia County Commissioner and request that they add the Dog and Cat Rescue definition written above to the Land Development Code as soon as possible. You can copy and paste the following to your County Commissioner via email, text, Facebook, or Twitter:

To look up what district you live in click here.

How to contact your Escambia County Commissioner

  • District 1 – Jeff Bergosh
    • Facebook: Jeff Bergosh, Escambia County Commissioner, District 1
    • Tweet: @MyDistrict1
    • Email: district1@myescambia.com
    • Phone: 850-595-4910
  • District 2 – Doug Underhill
    • Facebook: Commissioner Doug Underhill
    • Tweet: @MyDistrict2
    • Email: district2@myescambia.com
    • Phone: 850-595-4920​
  • District 3 – Lumon May
    • Tweet: @MyDistrict3
    • Email: district3@myescambia.com
    • Phone: 850-595-4930
  • District 4 – Robert Bender
    • Tweet: @MyDistrict4
    • Email: district4@myescambia.com
    • Phone: 850-595-4940
  • District 5 – Steven Barry
    • Tweet: @MyDistrict5
    • Email: district5@myescambia.com
    • Phone: 850-595-4950