Okaloosa County may help fund animal control using surtax funds
The Okaloosa County Surtax Committee voted to advance a proposal that would use $600,000 in tourism surtax funds to help pay for animal control services. County officials say the funding would support a scaled-back “Animal Control Light” program after PAWS ends its contract with the county this fall.
Santa Rosa Man Sentenced After Gruesome Animal Cruelty Investigation

A Santa Rosa County judge sentenced Gunner Cole Bush to five years in state prisonβthe maximum penalty allowedβafter a jury convicted him of aggravated animal cruelty. Prosecutors said Bush tortured a kitten to death, while investigators also uncovered the remains of two other missing family cats during the investigation.