Legislators do care what constituents (voters) think about issues. After all, elected officials generally want to be re-elected, and that means adequately addressing matters important to their constituents.

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

S 318 and HB 709 — Relating to Reptiles/Prohibitions
Senate Bill 318, introduced by State Senator Eleanor Sobel, and House Bill 709, introduced by State Representative Trudi Williams, would prohibit the possession, import, sale or breeding of several species of large reptiles, including the Burmese python, African rock python, anaconda and Nile monitor (a person who currently possesses one of these reptiles would be allowed to keep the animal for the remainder of that animal's life). The legislation would "turn off the spigot, stopping the flow of dangerous reptiles into the State,” Sen. Sobel said in a press release. “Florida must be proactive and preventative. Other species like anacondas and large lizards, such as Nile monitors, may become the next Burmese python unless we act now.”

Status: On February 16, S318 was approved by the Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation with a unanimous vote! It is now in the Committee on General Government Appropriations. On March 2, HB 709 was reported favorably out of the Policy Council; it is now before the Natural Resources Appropriations Committee.

Please contact Senator Sobel and Representative Williams and thank them for sponsoring this legislation.
• Senator Eleanor Sobel. E-mail: sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov
• Representative Trudi K. Williams. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Williams.

S 122 — Sale of Dogs and Cats
Senate Bill 122, introduced by Senator Larcenia Bullard, would strengthen Florida's "Pet Lemon Law" by transferring the power to regulate the sale of dogs and cats to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill would also strengthen penalties for violations (allowing fines of up to $10,000), and provide funding to add one additional full-time employee to enforce the rules.

Status: S122 has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Judiciary and the Committee on General Government Appropriations.

Please thank Sen. Bullard for introducing this bill:
• Senator Larcenia Bullard. E-mail: bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov

S 1708 and HB 765 — Unlawful Slaughter of Horses
Senate Bill 1708 and House Bill 765 would strengthen the State of Florida's restrictions on the sale of horsemeat for human consumption. If passed, it would be be illegal in Florida to sell, purchase, distribute, transport or possess horsemeat unless "it is clearly stamped, marked, or described as horsemeat for human consumption." The sale or purchase of horsemeat from unlicensed slaughterhouses would be expressly prohibited (currently, there are no slaughterhouses in Florida licensed to slaughter horses). The legislation would also increase penalties for violations of the regulations, and for the unlawful killing of a horse. Since the beginning of 2009, there has been a disturbing increase in the illegal slaughter of horses for their flesh in Miami-Dade County and elsewhere in Florida.

Senate Bill 1708 was introduced by State Senator Victor D. Crist. HB 765 was introduced by State Representatives Luis R. Garcia, Jr. and Joseph Abruzzo.

Status: On March 3, HB 765 was reported favorably by the Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee; it is now before the Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Committee. S1708 has been referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice and the Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations.

Please thank Senator Crist and Representatives Garcia and Abruzzo for introducing this legislation.
• Senator Victor D. Crist. E-mail: crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov
• Representative Luis R. Garcia, Jr.. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Garcia.
• Representative Joseph Abruzzo. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Abruzzo.

S 2372 and HB 1221 - Animal Control or Cruelty Ordinances
Senate Bill 2372, introduced by Senator Nan Rich, and House Bill 1221, introduced by Rep. Scott Randolph, would require county's or municipalities in Florida to collect a $15 surcharge for each violation of an ordinance relating to animal cruelty or control. At least $9 of the surcharge would be used to subsidize the costs of spaying or neutering dogs and cats in the community.

Please contact your state senator and state representative and ask that they support this legislation.

Status: S2372 has been referred to the Committee on Community Affairs and the Committee on Judiciary. HB 1221 has been referred to the Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee, the Military & Local Affairs Policy Committee, the Finance & Tax Council and the General Government Policy Council.