• Alachua County launched a 90-day whistleblower investigation into its animal shelter after a 15-page complaint by former staff detailed poor conditions and management issues.
• The Board of County Commissioners directed resources to support shelter staff, plan a new shelter design, and explore temporary alternative management.
• The shelter has had three directors in five years and faces ongoing challenges with its outdated facility and leadership changes, with a new director candidate under review.

Alachua County launched an outside investigation into the operations at the county animal shelter following a 15-page complaint by former staff.

County Manager Michele Lieberman told the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) that the complaint triggered its whistleblower ordinance adopted in 2020. She said the investigation was being handled under the county attorney’s office.

County Attorney Sylvia Torres said the investigation will last no longer than 90 days, making June 1 the final day for the report to be filed. Torres said this is the third investigation to fall under the whistleblower ordinance.

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The discussion at Tuesday’s meeting followed a lengthy public comment section concerning the animal shelter and top staff. The comments touched on two employees mentioned in the complaint: Gina Peebles, county chief of staff and interim director...

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