Estill County sheriff goes the extra mile for animal welfare

IRVINE, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — Estill County Sheriff Chris Flynn not only serves the humans of his county but also the animals. His efforts to stop animal cruelty were recognized Tuesday.

Flynn received the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Law Enforcement Award, which is something that’s given to first responders who go above and beyond for animal welfare. Flynn said this is a need that he’s seen in his community for a long time.

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“I believe we just started addressing it more. I think it’s always been here, so when we did a few of the cases, it really opened our eyes to it,” Flynn said.

The sheriff’s work led to several animal cruelty arrests, including shutting down a puppy mill. The work for the four-legged friends can also lead to positive results for the humans of the community and the Estill County Animal Shelter, where animals are well-cared for before finding homes.

“Being able to identify the animal issues, you may identify other issues that social services may follow up on and so forth. Practically, not only are you saving them, but you could also be saving people as well,” Flynn said.

The HSUS celebrates work like this since it helps bring these issues to light. Humane Society of the United States, Kentucky director Todd Blevins presented Flynn with the award.

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“Because it’s been so visible and because the sheriff has not been shy about saying that this is something we’re going to take seriously, we felt that it was only the right thing to do, to recognize all that good work with this award,” Blevins said.

More than the award, Sheriff Flynn’s work combined with the community’s efforts led to better futures for the pets waiting to find homes. Even with a lot of ground covered, Flynn said the work is far from over.

“I would say step up and help your local shelter. There’s a lot of places where you can donate items. More importantly, donate your time,” Flynn said.

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