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The latest news... |
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Legislation That
Affects You |
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(Reprinted with permission from the
American Kennel Club's Taking Command) |
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July
2003 |
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- Pasco County residents are currently
limited to no more than nine adult dogs and cats per
household. However, a new proposal could lower that number to
three or five pets, depending on the size of the property. The
AKC sent a statement of opposition to county commissioners.
- Hillsborough County officials
approved stringent revisions to their dangerous dog law in
June. Under the new ordinance, a dog can be deemed
"aggressive" if it bites or attacks a person just once. Owners
will be fined $450 and could face criminal and civil charges
if the dog attacks again. Successive fines may be reduced if
the dog is put through obedience school. The new law also
increases license fees for intact animals from $20 to $30. The
additional money will fund a new education program designed to
teach people how to avoid dog bites. Owners of dangerous dogs
will now be required to pay an annual $500 registration fee
and muzzle their dogs whenever in public. They will also have
to notify their neighbors they own a dangerous dog, and will
have their animals placed on a dangerous dog Web site for
review by the public. |
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June
2003 |
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S2350 was tabled in May and
substituted by H1911, a similar dog fighting bill. The
legislation punishes not only those who bait animals but also
those who breed, train, sell, own or transport animals used
for fighting. H1911 also prohibits owning or selling equipment
used for any of the above activities. Finally, the bill
provides for the search, seizure, impoundment and euthanasia
of dogs suspected of being involved in fighting. H1911 passed
the Senate in May. |
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May
2003 |
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H1429, which would have made it a
felony to own, breed, train, transport or sell animals for the
purpose of fighting, was withdrawn from further consideration
in March.
- On the same subject, the House Public
Safety and Crime Prevention Committee is considering
PS11, a bill to amend the state's animal fighting law.
The legislation would punish not only those who bait animals
but also those who breed, train, sell, own or transport
animals used for fighting. PS11 also prohibits owning or
selling equipment used for any of the above activities.
Finally, the bill provides for the search, seizure,
impoundment and euthanasia of dogs suspected of being involved
in fighting.
- The City of Sebastian is considering
establishing a dog park. The Canine Legislation department
sent a letter of support and materials to the mayor in
April. |
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April
2003 |
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Rep. Marco Rubio is sponsoring H1429,
which revises the state's animal fighting laws. The bill makes
it a felony to own, breed, train, transport or sell animals
for the purpose of fighting. It is a felony under existing law
to hold an animal fight, but H1429 goes a step further to
punish those who perform any service to facilitate a fight,
including refereeing or providing security. The bill also
provides for the seizure, impoundment and possible euthanasia
of fighting animals. H1429 was jointly referred to the House
Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Public Safety
and Crime Prevention. A companion bill, S2350, is being
sponsored by Sen. Ron Klein.
- City commissioners in
Delray approved legislation requiring that dogs be kept behind
a "secure" fence on private property. The invasive new law
will impact countless responsible owners, including those who
rely on electronic fences or voice control to keep their dogs
from running off their property. Hedges and low fences that a
dog can jump over will not be considered "secure." Outraged
dog owners argue proper enforcement of the city's existing
leash law would address problems with loose dogs.
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Deliberations in Jacksonville continue as fanciers work to
stave off intrusive animal control regulations. City officials
have released several unofficial drafts of the revisions that
have included everything from a limit law, which has since
been dropped, to restrictions on rescue groups, mandatory
spay/neuter, and extreme penalties for nuisance violations.
Concerned animal owners are working with city officials to
amend these onerous provisions. For more information, contact
Darla Duffey of the Alliance of Responsible Pet Owners of
North East Florida (dduffey@aol.com). |
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January/February 2003 |
No Info
Available for March 2003 |
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Despite their regular monitoring of local
legislation, Lee County fanciers were caught by surprise when
commissioners enacted a differential licensing ordinance in
December. The new law substantially increases the fee for
unaltered dogs and cats to $25 per animal. Area fanciers
quickly mobilized and are working with local veterinarians and
officials to have the ordinance amended or repealed. The
Canine Legislation department sent a statement of opposition
to county commissioners in December. For more information,
contact Lois Davis, Greater Fort Myers Dog Club
(941-690-7258).
- Weston officials may soon require muzzles
and leashes on all dogs declared dangerous when they are off
their owners' property. The animals would also have to be
confined to a fenced yard, and violators would face fines of
up to $500 per day. The proposal mirrors a similar ordinance
enacted by Broward County in 2002. Officials felt the measure
addressed dangerous dog concerns without singling out certain
breeds.
- Jacksonville fanciers are once again facing
egregious animal control legislation, this time in the form of
breeding restrictions. Among other provisions, breeders would
be required to obtain kennel permits and submit to annual
inspections. Rescue groups would be required to follow the
same strict regulations as kennels, which could seriously
hamper their programs. Forming a coalition called the Alliance
of Responsible Pet Owners of North East Florida, fanciers and
other animal groups were able to quell discussions of a limit
law last year. For a time it seemed they had opened a door
toward working with Animal Control on recommending fair,
enforceable changes to the city's ordinance. Purebred dog
owners were therefore shocked to learn that a new ordinance
had been drafted without their input. The measure has yet to
come before the city council, but fanciers are hoping to stop
it before it does. The Canine Legislation department supported
their efforts in a letter to key city officials in January.
For more information, contact Darla Duffey of the Greater
Orange Park Dog Club (dduffey@aol.com). |
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