Latest news with #PascoCountyAnimalServices
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Waiting for help: More than 21K of Floridians with developmental disabilities stuck in backlog
The Brief Over 21,000 of Florida's most vulnerable citizens have been waitlisted despite needing critical care. Many with developmental disabilities qualify for home support services through a program called the iBudget Waiver. The agency that runs the service blames the backlog on a lack of funds. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - More than 21,000 of Florida's most vulnerable citizens need help but do not receive it due to a backlog in the state government. The backstory They have developmental disabilities and qualify for home support services through Medicaid under a program called the iBudget Waiver. It currently serves more than 35,000 enrollees but has a waitlist of more than 21,000 others. The average wait has been eight and a half years. Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) manages the backlog, tying it to a lack of funds. READ: Pasco County Animal Services suspends dog adoptions after respiratory disease outbreak It would cost around $1.2 billion to get everyone off the waitlist. Families on the waitlist note they have waited for help as the state received large surpluses in revenue and placed billions of dollars in reserve. At the same time, the legislature specifically allocated millions to APD to reduce the waitlist. However, it has not gone down and APD did not spend much of the money it received. What they're saying "$360 million is being recommended to revert reappropriate this year when we've appropriated an average of $88 million over the past four years to pull people off the waitlist," said Escambia State Rep. Alex Andrade during a Florida House subcommittee hearing on March 12. READ: Controversial gun bill moves through Florida legislature following deadly FSU shooting APD did not spend $360 million, and it was allocated to reduce the backlog because managers say that people already being served may have growing needs and they don't want to run out of money. Dig deeper Former APD leader Jim DeBeaugrine said APD should not be concerned about that because the state projects the needs of current enrollees for the future and accordingly budgets for those needs. If APD had spent the $360 million as lawmakers intended, there would also have been a larger share of matching federal funds, totaling more than $800 million. "At some point, you need some services to help you, and I'm doing the job of a lot of people," said Yasmina Halim. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Her 12-year-old daughter Lily is developmentally disabled and terminally ill. Struggling as she waited, Halim made the painful decision to give up her place in line and place her daughter in institutional care (which could cost taxpayers more than the home-based support she was waiting for). However, due to the complexity of Lily's health, the scale of her disabilities and a shortage of service providers, they were unable to find an institution that would accept her. Big picture view The state then agreed to provide home-based services based on her crisis. Other families with pressing needs fail to get out of the queue due to the crisis. The Source FOX 13 Chief Political Investigator Craig Patrick collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pasco County Animal Services suspends dog adoptions after respiratory disease outbreak
The Brief Pasco County Animal Services has suspended dog adoptions after a respiratory disease broke out among several of the dogs. Some dogs are exhibiting a dry, hacking cough, which is a common symptom of canine pneumovirus. For the next two weeks, Pasco County Animal Services will not accept any new dogs. Their hope is to resume normal operations May 3. LAND O' LAKES, Fla. - Dog adoptions at Pasco County Animal Services have been temporarily suspended after reported cases of canine pneumovirus, a highly contagious respiratory disease. "We got a couple of tests back that were positive for canine pneumovirus. And so, we are running additional tests," Pasco County Animal Services Assistant Director Spencer Conover told FOX 13. Employees are wearing extra protection as they work to separate dogs in the shelter as best they can. Some dogs are exhibiting a dry, hacking cough, which is a common symptom of canine pneumovirus. Canine pneumovirus is one example of a canine infectious respiratory disease or CIRD: "Short for that is kennel cough," Encinosa added. Just last week, Hernando County Animal Services posted on Facebook that their shelter has seen an increase in canine infectious respiratory diseases (CIRD). We've reached out to them for comment and will let you know when we hear back. Last month, the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center confirmed it had an outbreak of canine pneumovirus. However, as of Monday, officials said their dog operations are currently back to normal. What they're saying "This is not the first time that our organization has dealt with canine pneumovirus, nor are we the only organization in our community dealing with it," Conover said. "This is something that is in our community." What's next For the next two weeks, Pasco County Animal Services will not accept any new dogs. Their hope is to resume normal operations May 3. Veterinarians suggest keeping your furry friends away from any dogs who are coughing. "Other than that, try to keep up to date on the other vaccinations. We don't have a vaccine for this one. But it's certainly helpful if the dog is protected against canine Bordetella and distemper and some of the other diseases that make up this canine infectious respiratory syndrome," Encinosa said. Experts told FOX 13 that canine pneumovirus doesn't spread to cats or humans. So cat operations will continue at Pasco County Animal Services for the time being. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
