It was recognized for innovation, progressive and proactive work in the industry, a reduction in euthanasia and a major increase in adoptions.

Agency staff also won three other best in state awards - Caretaker of the Year, Office Worker of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year. Lee County Commissioner John Albion publicly congratulated the agency.

"Those awards represent two-third of all awards presented statewide and four out of five categories where LCAS was nominated. So that as well as what's happening internationally with this group is amazing. That agency has totally turned around and we can only hope that we can take care of the problem of having to kill animals, hopefully we can do more spaying and neutering."

In the past three years, Lee County Animal Services has won eight best in state awards including at least one winner in every category available for awards.Lee County Animal Services is the only agency in the state to have won every category in the in the past three years.