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News and Investigations
News & Investigations
News Releases and Public Information
Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.
PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Alicia Manautou. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.
The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.
Jul 26, 2019
Polk County Animal Control giving away free pets on Saturdays during "Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer" promotion
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO
Every Saturday in July, Polk County Animal Control is waiving the adoption fees for dogs and cats in an effort to help provide loving homes for them, during our first-ever "Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer" promotion.
So far the promotion has been a huge success, and we are considering running the promotion through August as well.
Animal Control is located at 7115 de Castro Road in Winter Haven, just off the Polk Parkway Winter Lake Road exit, near the county landfill. Kennel hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
You can view adoptable pets by clicking here.
As a reminder, we adopt out cats and dogs every Monday through Saturday throughout the year; we are closed on Sundays and on specific holidays per the county holiday calendar.
Each pet adopted from Animal Control is spayed or neutered, and has been given its first shots, along with the following: De-worming; Heartworm testing; Heartworm preventative (if applicable); Rabies vaccination; tag; flea preventative treatment; and we offer (and encourage) microchipping.