[AONE]

2009 Legislative Session

The 2009 legislative session began this week in Tallahassee. Several important bills have been filed, including legislation to outlaw sexual abuse of animals, to crack down on the commercial breeding of dogs, and to strengthen protections for animals at dog and horse racing tracks. There is also legislation that we need your help to defeat.

Please contact your state senator and state representative and ask that they take the pro-animal positions outlined below for the following bills.


HB 189 and S 922 — Dangerous Dogs
Legislation has been introduced to reverse Florida’s prohibition on breed-specific regulations. Currently, Florida law bans breed discrimination (the law does not apply to Miami-Dade County's long-standing ban on pit bull-type dogs). Under House Bill 189 and Senate Bill 922, local governments would be allowed to enact regulations to ban the possession of Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and any number of other dog breeds. A similar effort was unsuccessful in the 2008 legislative session. Breed specific regulations do not address the real issues behind so-called “dangerous dogs,” and would instead penalize entire breeds of dogs indiscriminately. People living with the outlawed dog types could be forced to move or surrender their dog friends. With your help, this bill will be unsuccessful again this year.

Please write or call your state legislators and ask them to oppose this ill-conceived legislation.

Remind them that local governments in Florida are already free to adopt regulations for "dangerous dogs". There are more appropriate methods of curbing dangerous dog behavior.

HB 273 and S 448 — Sexual Activities Involving Animals
A bill entitled "Relating to Sexual Activities Involving Animals" has been introduced in the Florida legislature. If passed Florida would join the 30+ other U.S. states who have taken a proactive approach to protecting animals from sexual predation. House Bill 273 and Senate Bill 448 would prohibit sexual contact with animals. In recent years, there have been several disturbing cases of sexual abuse of animals in Florida. Shockingly, bestiality has not yet been expressly outlawed in Florida. With your help, this disturbing activity will be outlawed in 2009.

Please contact your state senator and representative and urge them to support this important bill.

Senator Nan Rich has introduced the bill in the Florida Senate, and Representative William Snyder is sponsoring the House version. Please thank them for introducing this important legislation:

• Representative William D. Snyder.
• Senator Nan Rich. E-mail: rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov.

HB 1215 and S 2316 — Relating to Pari-mutuel Facilities
Florida's Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering is supposed to ensure the humane treatment of animals at dog and horse tracks, but under current law the division is unable to conduct inspections of track facilities without the consent of the owners of the racing animals.
House Bill 1215 and Senate Bill 2316 would address this problem by granting authority to the division to "inspect any area at a pari-mutuel facility where racing animals are housed or maintained, including any areas where food, medications, or other supplies are kept." The bill also clarifies that the division may revoke the occupational license of racetrack employees if they are convicted of cruelty to any animal (not only to racing animals).

Please contact your state representative and senator and ask them to support this common-sense bill.

Please thank Representative Schultz and Senator Jones for introducing this legislation:

• Representative Ron Schultz.
• Senator Dennis L. Jones. E-mail: jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov.

HB 1437 and S 2594 — Greyhound Racing Permitholders
House Bill 1437 and Senate Bill 2594 would create a "light at the end of the tunnel" for racing greyhounds in Florida. If enacted, the legislation would create a date after which no new greyhound racing permits would be issued. The legislation would also allow current permitholders to operate simulcast wagering, cardrooms and slot machines without also running greyhounds (current regulations require a minimum number of live races). Several dog track owners are believed to want to end live racing and focus on more-profitable slots.

Please contact your state senator and state representative and encourage them to vote in favor of this bill.

Please contact Senator Gaetz and Representative Horner and thank them for sponsoring this humane legislation.

• Representative Mike Horner.
• Senator Don Gaetz. E-mail: gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov.

HB 1249 and S 2002 — Commercial Dog Breeding
House Bill 1249 and Senate Bill 2002 would discourage the large-scale commercial breeding of dogs by prohibiting the private possession of 50 or more unsterilized dogs (animal shelters, rescue organizations, retail pet stores and boarding facilities would be exempt). The bill would also define minimum requirements (space, exercise, veterinary care) for the private possession of 10 or more dogs. Please contact your state senator and representative and urge them to support this legislation.

Please thank Representatives Soto and Jenne, and Senator Constantine for introducing this legislation:

• Representative Darren Soto.
• Representative Evan Jenne.
• Senator Lee Constantine. E-mail: constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov.

[Lilybeans]

Thank you.

[mrcoolmrcool28]

We had an imho disturbed young man here in Wisconsin get off scot free (where did that term come from btw?) after having sex with a dead deer.
Well, there's no law against it!!

[riveree]

Thanks Aone .

The sexual exploitation of animals is a very real issue .

With so many Floridians in housing transition, many of them are willing to give up their dogs to find the housing the desire. While good intentioned, placing an ad in the newspaper or on Craigslist is a disaster for the dogs. Older/senior, female, large breed dogs are especially targeted by these creeps .

So I am thrilled to hear that we have some possible legislation in the works on this topic.

The "dangerous dog" legislation is purely breed discrimination - nothing more, nothing less. One of the most rational laws on the books in Florida is the anti-BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) we currently have. Imposing BSL/dangerous dogs would be a huge setback for all dog owners in Florida, regardless of the breed/type.

At a time in history when so many dogs are losing their homes and their families, I find it truly disgusting that there are still groups of people out there who wish to rub out entire segments of another species .