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Commissioner Adam Putnam Encourages Floridians to Heed Evacuation Orders

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Pet Owners Can Find Pet-friendly Options

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam urges Floridians to heed evacuation orders as Hurricane Irma approaches. For pet and animal owners, there are options available so you can safely evacuate and also ensure the safety of your pets and animals.
“Don’t stay behind and ignore evacuation orders just because you don’t want to leave Fido. There are pet and animal-friendly options available, and now is the time to do your research,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Hurricane Irma is potentially catastrophic, and planning now can save your life and your pet’s life.”
Floridians can visit FreshFromFlorida.com and visit the “Hurricane Irma” webpage to find useful links, or directly visit these sites to find pet-friendly shelters:

During an emergency, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides necessary food and water to affected areas and helps protect animals and pets. The department’s Florida Forest Service is responsible for incident management and assists emergency responders in clearing debris and distributing supplies. Additionally, the department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement provides law enforcement services to police departments and county sheriff’s offices as necessary.
For more information and tips on hurricane preparedness, visit FloridaDisaster.org.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz & Sen. Dana Young File Legislation to Help Pet Owners Seek Justice

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Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Coral Springs) and Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) have filed HB 1067 & SB 1270 providing pet owners a path of recourse in the event of the wrongful injury or death of their pet. Additionally, the bill holds defendants accountable for pain and suffering endured from emotional trauma to pet owners and for the value of the pet.
“People who kill or injure someone’s pet should be held accountable for their actions,” declared Representative Jared Moskowitz. “We form emotional bonds with our pets and those who endure the terrible tragedy of losing them deserve a chance at justice. This bill will act as a deterrent to those who work with animals to think about the legal consequences before engaging in negligent behavior.”
In current law, pets are treated as personal property. Because of this, pet owners are usually entitled to compensation only equal to the fair market value of their pet. Noneconomic damages are not typically awarded in cases involving wrongful injury or death of a pet.
Senator Dana Young said, “Under current Florida law, our pets are treated as property, like a piece of furniture that can be easily replaced. As a dog owner, I know that pets mean so much more — they become a part of the family and form deep bonds with their owners. Through this bill, we recognize this special relationship and provide pet owners with a means of recourse in instances where their pet is hurt or killed through gross negligence.”