Dixie County Humane Society Spreading Awareness about Proposed Animal Rescue Act

March 24, 2014 - PRLog -- The Dixie County Humane Society -- a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in Old Town, Florida -- has launched a petition drive and Facebook campaign to spread awareness about pending bill SB 1534 in the Florida State Senate, also known as the Animal Rescue Act.

The bill, which was filed by State Senator Joseph Abruzzo on February 28, 2014, mandates that if a shelter or rescue group is willing to take possession of an animal, the animal may not be euthanized.  Additionally, the bill requires that all animal control shelters that euthanize animals maintain a registry of animal rescue groups that are willing and able to accept an animal that is at risk of euthanasia.  If the bill passes, Florida shelters will be required to notify participating rescue organizations at least 24 hours before the animal is scheduled to be euthanized.

There are no such protections in Florida at this time.  Tens of thousands of animals are euthanized solely because animal control agencies refuse to cooperate with the scores of rescue groups that actively seek to save them.  According to No Kill Nation, a 2011 survey of rescue groups in Florida found that 63% of non-profit animal rescue groups have had at least one Florida state shelter refuse to cooperate with them.  The majority of respondents reported that the shelters were openly hostile to their groups -- with the end result being that these shelters killed the very animals the rescue groups were attempting to save.

Florida's Animal Rescue Act would put an end to these practices.  However, this is not the first time similar changes have been proposed. A similar bill was introduced into the Florida State Legislature and failed to pass when the legislative session ended in early 2012.

Dixie County Humane Society has taken the lead in creating public awareness, and the organization is urging all animal lovers in Florida to take action.  The lives of thousands upon thousands of innocent shelter animals are at stake.  Florida citizens are asked to show their support for the Animal Rescue Act by signing Dixie County Humane Society's petition at http://tinyurl.com/msjrk26

Supporters can also visit Dixie County Humane Society on Facebook and share the Animal Rescue Act Facebook posts.  http://facebook.com/dixiecounty.pet.adoption

For additional information concerning the legislative process of Florida's Animal Rescue Act, visit Dixie County Humane Society's website at

http://www.dixiecountyhumanesociety.org/pass-the-florida-animal-rescue-act/