Animal Safety meeting held to answer questions on animal abuse

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - As Marion County commissioners consider new rules for housing animals, tonight, a town hall forum was held to answer questions about animal abuse.

Peter Fletcher, an animal rights activist, tried to save the dog named Sammy who was found on the side of the road in Ocala back in September.

"It's hard not to get emotional because when I brought him into the equestrian center he didn't have a name, so I gave him the name Sammy," Fletcher stated.

He helped to organize an animal welfare town hall.

Fletcher says they're not looking for a miracle, they're just looking for simple solutions so that no animal will have to go through what Sammy went through."

"No one person or one group can really accomplish things on their own, so it's more or less coming together as a community and sharing ideas," says Fletcher.

At the town hall, nine people sat on a panel to answer questions from residents.

This included a county commissioner, people from Marion County Animal Services, the Marion County Sheriff's Office, and even the state attorney.

Residents asked questions about dog fighting, animal cruelty, and more.

Officials with the sheriff's office say for the past 10 years complaints of dog fighting have been minimal and encourage people to call Crime Stoppers at (352) 368-7867 to report animal abuse if they want to stay anonymous.

Fletcher hopes the county hires someone to investigate animal abuse cases to help deputies. He says will continue to fight for #secondchancesammy.