As most animal lovers are aware, Florida’s Miami-Dade County has had a notorious breed ban in place against “pit bulls” for 20 years. This ban has proven completely ineffective, and in fact, is the only one of its kind in Florida, as the state outlawed them years ago but grandfathered in Miami’s ban (stupid).
With HB 997 and SB 1322, we now have a chance to get this ban overturned, saving thousands of lives AND taxpayer dollars in the process, but a few lone naysayers are engaging in fear-mongering, attempting to keep the ban intact. One such person is Fred Grimm of the Miami Herald. With absolutely no factual basis for his position, he’s pulling out isolated events and dubious statistics to convince readers to support the ban’s continuation. Meanwhile, this type of legislation is opposed across the board by animal welfare advocates and experts worldwide based on its absolute ineffectiveness.
And is Mr. Grimm aware that things are just dandy in Broward County, which has no such breed ban? Just a few miles away, pit bulls are permitted to live, breathe and walk the streets, and amazingly, the county’s children and adults alike are perfectly safe. Imagine that.
Ohio, a state notorious for its lax attitude towards animal welfare, just changed their dangerous dog designation against pit bulls. Why? Because it DOESN’T WORK, and the state has spent $17 million per year on enforcement. Taxpayer money flushed down the proverbial toilet – the same thing that’s been happening for decades here in Miami.
Yesterday, the senate’s version of the bill, SB 1322, did not pass the Budget Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee. It missed by ONE VOTE. The bill is technically still alive, but time is short.
Lawmakers need to address the FACTS, not ludicrous and emotionally-based pleas from a few close-minded and uneducated individuals.
Miami residents, it’s up to YOU to get this ban overturned. Please, please contact our state senators and congressman and voice your strong support for HB 997 and SB 1322. We still have a chance, but we need to make our voices heard.
Below are the email addresses for Florida’s state senators and congressmen, as well as a sample letter from the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation (MCABSL). Please take five minutes of your time to speak up for those who need it most.
Florida Senators
alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov, altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov, benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov, bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov, bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.gov, braynon.oscar.web@flsenate.gov, bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov, dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov, detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov, portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov, dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov, evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov, fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov, flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov, gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov, garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov, gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov, gibson.audrey.web@flsenate.gov, haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov, hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov, jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov, joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov, latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov, lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov, margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov, montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov, negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov, norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov, oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov, rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov, richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov, ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov, sachs.maria.web@flsenate.gov, simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov, siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov, smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov, sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov, storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov, thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov, wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov
Florida House of Representatives
joseph.abruzzo@myfloridahouse.gov, janet.adkins@myfloridahouse.gov, larry.ahern@myfloridahouse.gov, ben.albritton@myfloridahouse.gov, frank.artiles@myfloridahouse.gov, gary.aubuchon@myfloridahouse.gov, baxley.dennis@myfloridahouse.com, leonard.bembry@myfloridahouse.gov, lori.berman@myfloridahouse.gov, mack.bernard@myfloridahouse.gov, michael.bileca@myfloridahouse.gov, jim.boyd@myfloridahouse.gov, jeff.brandes@myfloridahouse.gov, jason.brodeur@myfloridahouse.gov, doug.broxson@myfloridahouse.gov, dwight.bullard@myfloridahouse.gov, rachel.burgin@myfloridahouse.gov, matt.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov, daphne.campbell@myfloridahouse.gov, dean.cannon@myfloridahouse.gov, charles.chestnut@myfloridahouse.gov, jeff.clemens@myfloridahouse.gov, marti.coley@myfloridahouse.gov, Richard.corcoran@myfloridahouse.gov, fred.costello@myfloridahouse.gov, steve.crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov, janet.cruz@myfloridahouse.gov, daniel.davis@myfloridahouse.gov, jose.diaz@myfloridahouse.gov, chris.dorworth@myfloridahouse.gov, brad.drake@myfloridahouse.gov, eric.eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov, clay.ford@myfloridahouse.gov, erik.fresen@myfloridahouse.gov, james.frishe@myfloridahouse.gov, reggie.fullwood@myfloridahouse.gov, matt.gaetz@myfloridahouse.gov, luis.garcia@myfloridahouse.gov, joe.gibbons@myfloridahouse.gov, rich.glorioso@myfloridahouse.gov, eddy.gonzalez@myfloridahouse.gov, tom.goodson@myfloridahouse.gov, james.grant@myfloridahouse.gov, denise.grimsley@myfloridahouse.gov, bill.hager@myfloridahouse.gov, gayle.harrell@myfloridahouse.gov, shawn.harrison@myfloridahouse.gov, doug.holder@myfloridahouse.gov, ed.hooper@myfloridahouse.gov, mike.horner@myfloridahouse.gov, matt.hudson@myfloridahouse.gov, dorothy.hukill@myfloridahouse.gov, clay.ingram@myfloridahouse.gov, mia.jones@myfloridahouse.gov, evan.jenne@myfloridahouse.gov, john.julien@myfloridahouse.gov, martin.kiar@myfloridahouse.gov, paige.kreegel@myfloridahouse.gov, john.legg@myfloridahouse.gov, ana.logan@myfloridahouse.gov, gwyn.clarke-reed@myfloridahouse.gov, dana.young@myfloridahouse.gov, ritch.workman@myfloridahouse.gov, john.wood@myfloridahouse.gov, trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov, alan.williams@myfloridahouse.gov, mike.weinstein@myfloridahouse.gov, will.weatherford@myfloridahouse.gov, barbara.watson@myfloridahouse.gov, jim.waldman@myfloridahouse.gov,charles.vanzant@myfloridahouse.gov, john.tobia@myfloridahouse.gov, geraldine.thompson@myfloridahouse.gov, dwayne.taylor@myfloridahouse.gov, greg.steube@myfloridahouse.gov, kelli.stargel@myfloridahouse.gov, cynthia.stafford@myfloridahouse.gov, darren.soto@myfloridahouse.gov, william.snyder@myfloridahouse.gov, jimmie.smith@myfloridahouse.gov, irving.slosberg@myfloridahouse.gov, elaine.schwartz@myfloridahouse.gov, robert.schenck@myfloridahouse.gov, ron.saunders@myfloridahouse.gov, franklin.sands@myfloridahouse.gov, darryl.rouson@myfloridahouse.gov, pat.rooney@myfloridahouse.gov, hazelle.rogers@myfloridahouse.gov, ken.roberson@myfloridahouse.gov, ronald.renuart@myfloridahouse.gov, michelle.rehwinkel@myfloridahouse.gov, betty.reed@myfloridahouse.gov, lake.ray@myfloridahouse.gov, scott.randolph@myfloridahouse.gov, bill.proctor@myfloridahouse.gov, steve.precourt@myfloridahouse.gov,ari.porth@myfloridahouse.gov, elizabeth.porter@myfloridahouse.gov, scott.plakon@myfloridahouse.gov, ray.pilon@myfloridahouse.gov, keith.perry@myfloridahouse.gov, steve.perman@myfloridahouse.gov, jimmy.patronis@myfloridahouse.gov, kathleen.passidomo@myfloridahouse.gov, mark.pafford@myfloridahouse.gov, marlene.otoole@myfloridahouse.gov, jose.diaz@myfloridahouse.gov, jeanette.nunez@myfloridahouse.gov, bryan.nelson@myfloridahouse.gov, peter.nehr@myfloridahouse.gov, george.moraitis@myfloridahouse.gov, larry.metz@myfloridahouse.gov, seth.mckeel@myfloridahouse.gov, charles.mcburney@myfloridahouse.gov, debbie.mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov, carlos.lopez-cantera@myfloridahouse.gov, rick.kriseman@myfloridahouse.gov
Sample Letter from MCABSL:
Date
Dear Representative/ Senator XXX or Dear Legislature (For general purposes):
As a constituent, I ask that you support and co-sponsor HB 997 to repeal
breed discrimination in the entire state of Florida. Currently, Miami-Dade
County is allowed to seize and kill dogs simply because of their
appearance.
This is America, and responsible pet owners should be allowed to own
whatever breed they choose. Reckless owners should be prohibited from
owning any dog.
I urge you to grant the citizens of Miami the same rights afforded to dog
lovers in other parts of the state. This measure will not only save lives,
but tax dollars as well.
Thank you for your consideration in this important matter.
Sincerely,
XXX
