ORANGE COUNTY – Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) has received the “Outstanding Agency of the Year” award from the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association. With 70 member agencies, FAPAA advances the animal welfare field and oversees the certification of Animal Control Officers and other necessary courses. This award was announced on February 24, 2024, during FAPAA’s annual training conference.
OCAS bested Pasco County Animal Services and Brevard Sheriff’s Office Animal Services for the top award. The nomination highlighted the shelter’s cruelty investigations and mitigation programs, community action team, spay and neuter program, the Pneumovirus outbreak response, and outreach and education initiatives. During the 2023 fiscal year, the shelter achieved a 90% overall live release rate and accepted more than 14,000 pets. Notably, OCAS was chosen by peer shelter members of FAPAA.
“The FAPAA awards banquet serves to recognize excellence in this field, as determined by agencies that do the hard work that we do,” Orange County Animal Services Manager Diane Summers said. “It is monumental for us to have this recognition by those who understand the animal welfare field best.”
FAPAA member agencies also recognized two key Orange County Government Animal Services staff members and a community volunteer for the awards: Program Coordinator Jacqueline Caraballo for “Animal Control Officer of the Year,” Specialist Supervisor Monica Martinez for “Supervisor of the Year,” and Isabella Venezio for “Volunteer of the Year.”
