Animal Network, Inc.

Manatee Animal Coalition

Animal Network is proud to have spearheaded the Manatee Animal Coalition (MAC). This group is made up of representatives from the 3 major shelters in our area, Manatee County Animal Services, Bishop Animal Shelter, Humane Society of Manatee County as well as Animal Network and occasionally there are representatives of other smaller animal welfare organizations from our community when invited to attend.

The group meets 3 or 4 times a year to discuss and share ideas of how we can improve animal welfare in the community and to share some of our successes. This is so important, since in the not so distant past, many of the organizations seemed to compete rather than cooperate. Now, we share ideas and innovations that can work for all of us.

Manatee County Animal Services Advisory Board

The president of Animal Network chairs the Manatee County Animal Services Advisory Board. It is made up of members of the community that are interested in animal welfare in Manatee County and is appointed by The Board of County Commissioners. The Advisory Board’s primary purpose is to make recommendations to the commissioners regarding Animal Service’s issues as well as ordinances, as well as other decisions that affect animals in Manatee County.

Animal Cruelty Team

The Animal Cruelty Team (ACT) is made up of animal lovers in our community that deal with animal abuse in Manatee County. The ACT team follows animal cruelty cases from the arrest through sentencing. The team communicates with the states attorneys and let them know that we are the voice of the voiceless, the victims of cruelty. We go to court proceedings in bright yellow shirts that proclaim NO ANIMAL CRUELTY. This clearly sends a message to the judges that we are fed up with the slap on the wrist precedents of the past. Occasionally, over the protest of defense attorneys, we are allowed to speak on behalf of the victims of these heinous crimes. Recently several of these defendants have had to serve jail time, which reflects a real change in our local judicial system. This hopefully will deter animal abusers from taking their frustrations out on innocent victims.