Miami-Dade Animal Services, the county company managing Doral’s beleaguered Pet Adoption and Protection Center that has actually dealt with overpopulation and a recent claim submitted versus its director, Bronwyn Stanford, by a leading benefactor, has a brand-new interim director.
READ MORE: A fight over a pet shelter gets ugly. Lawsuit claims slander by Miami-Dade director
On Friday, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava put Stanford on paid administrative leave “until further notice,” according to a memo sent to county commissioners.
Cava designated Annette Jose interim director of the Animal Services department to oversee Animal Services’ more than 280 employees.
Jose, a county worker considering that June 2019, had actually worked as assistant director for Animal Services, managing its $34 million spending plan and funding. She formerly was vice president and chief running officer for Our Kids of Miami-Dade and Monroe and has a master’s degree in financing from University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida International University.
“I am confident in Annette’s leadership and ability to usher the department forward during this transitional period,” Cava said in her memo.
The Miami Herald connected to Stanford and Cava for remark.
“There are currently no plans to search for a new permanent director,” said Rachel Johnson, Cava’s deputy chief of staff in an email to the Herald. “Right now, Bronwyn is on leave and Annette will serve as interim until further notice.”
Yolanda Berkowitz, a creator of the Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, is taking legal action against Stanford in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, declaring that Stanford slandered her with lies about her past after Berkowitz grumbled to the mayor about Stanford’s efficiency as the tax-funded shelter’s director.
The Doral shelter was overfilled with a record number of stray dogs in November 2022 after almost 3 years of the COVID pandemic caused an across the country rise of homeless animals.
Stanford, a previous district attorney and administrator in Florida’s child-services department, ended up being Animal Services director when Cava designated her in November 2021 to the $198,000 yearly position.
