This page is dedicated to bringing awareness to the devastating impact the decisions of our County Commissioners have had on the dogs, staff, volunteers, and community at the Bishop Shelter.
We encourage everyone to contact every County Commissioner and let them know we are paying attention. Our elected officials work for the people, and they need to hear that we expect transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of our tax dollars.
The dogs cannot speak for themselves, so we must speak for them. Every email, phone call, and public comment matters. Together, our voices can make a difference.
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PLEASE GO TO THE UPCOMING MEETINGS PAGE UNDER EVENTS & NEWS FOR CALLS TO ACTION, INCLUDING TALKING POINTS, FOR THE UPCOMING ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON 9/9/26 1 PM AS WELL AS THE TWO BUDGET HEARINGS 9/10/26 AND 9/24/26 BOTH BEGINNING AT 5:30 PM
August 22, 2026 CALL TO ACTION
The next Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting is:
Tuesday August 25th 9am – 5pm at:
Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave West, Bradenton FL, 34205
We would love to have volunteers come to this meeting, for whatever portion of the day they can, wearing the black Manatee Shelter Watch T-Shirts so they know we’re still paying attention even when the Bishop Trailer Kennels aren’t on the Agenda. Who knows, you might even see something else on the Agenda you would like to speak to.
August 20, 2026 CALL TO ACTION
PLEASE EMAIL COMMISSIONERS INDIVIDUALLY
george.kruse@mymanatee.org
drbob.mccann@mymanatee.org
tal@mymanatee.org
jason.bearden@mymanatee.org
amanda.ballard@mymanatee.org
mike.rahn@mymanatee.org
For copy & paste please Download the Word Document above
Subject – Hurricane Rating concerns for Bishop Trailer Kennels
Dear Commissioner:
Even though the prefabs are rated for around 130mph (give or take), do they actually meet Manatee County Code in place on the date they were installed?
Sustained 130 mph is through Category 3. Milton made landfall on Siesta Key with sustained Cat-3 wind speeds. Irma made landfall on Marco Island with sustained Cat-3 wind speeds. Wind gusts after landfall were much higher. Personally, rated for 130 mph doesn’t seem good enough to me. These are FACTS from https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php
Category Sustained Winds Types of Damage Due to Hurricane Winds
Cat 1 is 74-95 mph
119-153 km/h Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.
Cat 2 is 96-110 mph
154-177 km/h Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.
Cat 3 (major) is 111-129 mph
178-208 km/h Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.
Cat 4 (major) is 130-156 mph
209-251 km/h Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
Cat 5 (major) is 157 mph or higher
252 km/h or higher Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
The fact is, these trailer kennels are absolutely horrible to work in during a little afternoon rainstorm. We need to build facilities that meet or exceed Manatee County Code and will not be required to be evacuated regardless of what level of hurricane we are threatened with. While we can never guarantee coming through a hurricane with no damage, building to match the common sense realities of life in SWFL is a must.
Sincerely,
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August 10, 2026 CALL TO ACTION
PLEASE WRITE TO OUR COMMISSIONERS! WE NEED TO MAKE OUR VOICES LOUD AND CLEAR!
This evening at the shelter for the last hour was rain. Dogs aren’t getting their basic needs met, the conditions are brutal, and we need the Commissioners to task the advisory board with coming up with real solutions. We need a plan as this is unacceptable.
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Thursday, August 6, 2026 CALL TO ACTION!
PLEASE WRITE TO OUR COMMISSIONERS! WE NEED TO MAKE OUR VOICES LOUD AND CLEAR!
This is an epic leadership failure, not just by the Commissioners who approved this project, but by everyone in County Administration who reviewed these plans and allowed construction to begin despite the obvious deficiencies.
We don’t need apologies or admissions of guilt. We know where accountability lies.
What we need now is leadership.
The next 30 days should focus on immediate action:
* A public commitment from County Administration to correct the shelter’s fundamental design flaws.
* A clear timeline for evaluating redesign options, not more piecemeal fixes.
* Independent oversight of the decision-making process, with meaningful involvement from the Animal Services Advisory Board and qualified shelter design experts.
The following 60 days should produce measurable progress:
* A public presentation of redesign recommendations and costs.
* A realistic implementation schedule with regular public updates.
* Board direction that prioritizes a long-term shelter designed to serve Manatee County for the next 30 to 40 years, rather than continuing to spend millions on temporary solutions and change orders.
This cannot be allowed to drag on month after month with no accountability and no visible progress. The community deserves transparency, decisive leadership, and a clear path toward building a shelter that actually meets the needs of the animals, staff, volunteers, and taxpayers.
George Kruse
(941) 745-3790
The Honorable George Kruse
P.O. Box 1000
Bradenton, FL 34206
Amanda Ballard
(941) 745-3702
(941) 745-3790
amanda.ballard@mymanatee.org
The Honorable Amanda Ballard
PO Box 1000
Bradenton, FL 34206-1000
Dr. Bob McCann
(941) 745-3773
(941) 745-3773
drbob.mccann@mymanatee.org
The Honorable Dr. Bob McCann
P.O. Box 1000
Bradenton, FL 34206
Jason Bearden
(941) 705-8709
(941) 745-3790
jason.bearden@mymanatee.org
The Honorable Jason Bearden
P.O. Box 1000
Bradenton, FL 34206
Mike Rahn
(941) 745-3713
(941) 745-3790
mike.rahn@mymanatee.org
The Honorable Mike Rahn
P.O. Box 1000
Bradenton, FL 34206-1000
Tal Siddique
(941) 398-4729
(941) 745-3790
tal.siddique@mymanatee.org
The Honorable Tal Siddique
P.O. Box 1000
Bradenton, FL 34206
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Manatee Shelter Watch 