FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Scott Trebatoski, Lee County Animal Services
              (239) 432-2090 Ext. 230

ANIMAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES/VOLUNTEERS WIN STATEWIDE AWARDS/POSITIONS
         
FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 23, 2004) - Lee County Animal Services has received two statewide awards from the Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) and Animal Services Director Scott Trebatoski has been appointed to a three-year term on the FACA Board of Directors.

The awards, presented at FACA's annual conference this past week, are:

  Terri Brown, Animal Services' Kennel Operations Manager, was named Supervisor of the Year. Brown is a 3-year county employee.



click image to enlarge

Eileen Nielson, a community volunteer, was named Humanitarian of the Year. Nielson annually traps hundreds of cats, socializing them if possible, gets them sterilized at no cost to the county and removes all ferals.

click image to enlarge

Scott Trebatoski, Animal Services Director, was appointed to a three-year term on the FACA Board of Directors. Trebatoski is a 6-year county employee and has been Animal Services Director since June 2001.


click image to enlarge

FACA is the statewide professional organization established to further animal care and control throughout Florida. It represents more than 80 professional member organizations. Each year FACA presents awards for the best in the state in six categories: Outstanding Organization, Supervisor of the Year, Caretaker of the Year, Animal Control Officer of the Year, Humane Educator of the Year, and Humanitarian of the Year.

Last year, Lee County Animal Services won top awards for Animal Control Officer of the Year and Humane Educator of the Year, along with an Honorable Mention for Caretaker of the Year.

Lee County Animal Services enforces all laws and ordinances relating to the licensing and possession of pets in Lee County and its cities. Activities include responding to animal nuisance complaints, conducting cruelty and neglect investigations, performing animal rescues and administering licensing, rabies control, and educational programs. Animal Services also runs an animal shelter, located at 5600 Banner Drive near the Sheriff's Office off Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway, for lost and abandoned pets.

The division employs 37 people, including 14 animal control officers, and has a fiscal year 2004-05 operating budget of $3.4 million.

For more information about Animal Services, its programs or to view pets online, visit Lee County Animal Services' website at http://leelostpets.com or call (239) 432-2083.