ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A major change is underway for animal lovers in St. Lucie County. After months of complaints from residents about after-hours response gaps, county leaders say animal control is now operating under a true 24/7 response model for calls involving stray or injured animals in unincorporated areas.

Residents say in the past, finding a stray dog or cat at night often meant being told to wait until morning, unless the animal was seriously hurt.

“That inconsistency was a real problem,” said Jamie Lee Fowler, a St. Lucie County commissioner who pushed for the change. “People were being told to put the animal back where they found it. At the end of the day, an animal loose and running around is a public safety issue for everybody.”

Fowler said repeated complaints from neighbors, many shared publicly on social media, highlighted gaps in service and prompted county leadership to act.

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What’s changed

Before the update, St. Lucie County Animal Safety typically responded during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or after hours only for serious emergencies such as injured animals, cruelty cases, or severe bite incidents.

Now, animal safety officers will respond around the clock to calls involving stray dogs and cats at large.

“So the change is instead of an emergency-only response after hours, now we are responding to any calls for stray cats or dogs at large,” said Maria Valencia, the county’s Animal Safety Division manager. “Our officers will attempt to locate the animal, reunite it with its owner, or bring it to our holding facility.”

Animal Safety officials say internal data showed too many after-hours calls were going unanswered, making the change necessary.

“Nobody wants to leave a stray animal roaming around, especially if it’s busy in traffic,” Valencia said.

What residents should know

If residents find a stray animal after hours in unincorporated St. Lucie County, they are asked to call 911 or the non-emergency line at 772-465-5770. Dispatchers will determine the appropriate animal control agency and contact an on-call officer.

Officials stress the expanded response:

Applies only to unincorporated St. Lucie CountyDoes not include wildlife callsMay have response times that vary based on location.

County leaders say the change is permanent and part of a broader effort to strengthen animal safety services.

A hopeful ending for one stray

Sable, a dog recently found wandering as a stray, is now safe and available for adoption at St. Lucie County Animal Safety. Staff describe her as loving car rides, great with kids, friendly, and eager to find a forever home. Animal Safety officials say the shelter currently has 16 dogs available for adoption and encourages residents to learn more online.