The new bill that makes abandoning dogs during natural disasters illegal is finally here
A new Florida bill would make it illegal to abandon dogs during natural disasters.
The Senate Bill which goes under number 1738 would make it a punishable offense to leave dogs outside and unattended using a restraining during a natural or manmade disaster.
People who abandon their dogs in such conditions could face up to one year in prison or a $5000 fine.
The bill was introduced by State Senator Joe Gruters and was passed 5-0 by an Agriculture Committee vote. It has now been referred to the Criminal Justice Committee.
Citizens will be required to keep their pets safe if the National Weather Service issues a warning or authorities order an area to be evacuated in the case of tornadoes, tropical storms, and other kinds of extreme weather.
In addition, the bill would authorize veterinarians to report suspected violations without having to notify the owner.
“We’ve seen three hurricanes and seen numerous dogs left tethered to different things. “We want to give dogs a fighting chance,” Gruters told the Tampa Bay Times
A good example of when the law would have come in good use would have been when many dogs got abandoned after Hurricane Florence in North Carolina.
Have a look at the video billow showing six caged dogs being rescued after being locked in a cage while their owner fled.
Rescued six dogs in Leland, NC, after the owner LEFT THEM locked in an outdoor cage that filled with flood water that was rapidly rising.
We got them out, but by the time we left, the water was so high that they would have drowned. BRING YOUR PETS WITH YOU! #HurricaneFlorence pic.twitter.com/tRibGxCjXy
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) September 16, 2018
How do you feel about the new Florida Bill? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
