Florida is shaping animal rights, giving abandoned pets a chance to survive during natural disasters.
When disasters hit doors unexpectedly, some households would choose to leave their pets behind. The worse part is there are individuals who tether these animals, leaving them more vulnerable under extreme weather conditions. Sadly, this kind of heartbreaking situation still happens. Which is why, in response, a senator in Florida introduced a bill that would protect abandoned dogs.
Joe Gruters, Florida State Senator, pushes for animal rights as he introduces Senate Bill 1738. This bill would consider leaving dogs unattended during “man-made” disasters as a first-degree misdemeanor. Meaning, anyone who will abandon their pet/s during evacuation will be charged with animal cruelty, pay a fine of up to $5,000 and/or face up to one year in jail.
As per the bill, “man-made” disasters are situations when pet owners have received notices or warnings from state officials about any extreme weather. It’s been further explained that warnings about tropical storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes with voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders will be covered by the bill.
Giving Dogs a Fighting Chance
The bill did not met any opposition when it moved through the Senate Agriculture Commission. Senator Gruters shared during the hearing that they want to give those abandoned dogs a fighting chance, and so do animal rescuers in Florida. According to the director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, Dianne Suave, leaving pets behind is one of the worst things owners could do. It’s a disappointing situation, especially when their goal is to bring people and pets together. Some rescuers shared they had to save around 40 abandoned dogs following Hurricane Irma.
Meanwhile, the director of Feline Lifesaving at Austin Pets Alive, Monica Frenden, shared a different experience. She said that after Hurricane Harvey struck, they saw animals tied to trees. Various animals were also found floating on trash cans, including dogs, cats, chickens, horses, and pigs. While tethering animals has already been prohibited in many counties, Senate Bill 1738 aims to update animal cruelty laws on a state level.
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Advice for Pet Owners During Evacuations
Richard Green, who has joined over a hundred rescue missions for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), has some advice to pet owners: if there’s a need to evacuate, do it as soon as possible. He has seen people who chose to stay behind, which led them to abandon pets. He also reminded everyone that pets are also family. Many of the things we do during disasters are for our family, so it’s important to take extra steps for our furry companions, too, he added.
Preparing ahead of time can also help in ensuring a much easier evacuation, especially for pet owners. Part of this preparation is building an emergency kit for your pet that includes food, water, medicine, first-aid essentials, collar and ID tag, and other familiar items that could be stress-reducing for them. And speaking of stress, extreme weather conditions could be a cause of anxiety for pets, leaving them disoriented. When this happens and you urgently need to evacuate, it’s possible you won’t be able to find your pet immediately inside your home. What you can do, perhaps as a last resort, is to create an escape route through an open door or window, so your pet won’t get trapped inside.
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From The Club
Lack of preparation could be the main reason why a lot of pets get left behind during disasters. I think the new Florida state bill would be a great help in keeping pet owners more accountable. Also, it’s about time they update existing laws on animal cruelty. While tethering has been prohibited, there are still pet owners who do it, and they get away with it. This time, I hope, abandoned dogs, get justice. But ultimately, preparation is key for a smoother evacuation with pets. And yes, it’s equally important to evacuate early, just like what Richard Green said.
