b'The2021legislativesessionwas SmyrnaBeach,andRep.Samdifferent for certain, but both the Killebrew,R-WinterHaven.ThisLawyers, Guns senate and house worked hard to billallowsforacanineofficermake the best out of a difficult sit- (police dog) injured in the line ofand Money uationwhileadheringtothe duty to be given licensed life sup-required COVID-19 safety precau- port services to be transported to ations.Oneofthebestvictories veterinary hospital or similar facili-Editors Note: Floridas legislative from session 2021 is the child wel- ty if there is no individual requir-2021 session is in the history fare bill that includes cross report- ing medical attention or transportbooks.Of the more than 3,000 bills ing between animal control officers at that time. The bill authorizes a(ACOs) and child protective inves- paramedic or an emergency med-filed, 260 were headed for the tigators (CPIs). This little gem was icaltechniciantoprovideemer-Governors desk when the session included in a very large child pro- gencymedicalcareundercertainadjourned in April. The session was tection bill and was championed by circumstances.controversial right up to the final MinorityLeader,SenatorLauren TheFloridaFishandWildlifeBook,D-Plantation.Rep.Thad ConservationCommissionswildlifehankie drop. Here is an overview Altman, R-Indialantic, carried the traffickingbillalsopassedwithfrom Kate MacFall of the animal bill on the house side. bipartisansupport.Thisbilladdsadvocacy bills; some winners, Crossreportingwillgointo wildlifetraffickingcrimestotheeffect July 1st, 2021 and will require list of racketeering offenses, mak-some not. CPIstoreportsuspectedanimal ingthemprosecutableunderabuse, cruelty, or neglect within 72 RICO(RacketeerInfluencedandhours to the corresponding Animal CorruptOrganizationAct)andControlAgency.Reportsshould goesintoeffectuponbecominginclude a description of the animal law. Thiscameontheheelsofaand the known or suspected cruelty, largewildlifesmugglingandtraf-nameandaddressoftheanimals ficking case the FWC investigatedownerifknown,andanyother and reported in October 2020.information that may assist the ani- Thecaseinvolvedseveralmal control officer, or law enforce- poachedspeciesincludingovermentofficerinestablishingthe 3,600 flying squirrels from differ-cause of the cruelty and the manner entcountiesinCentralFloridain which it occurred. spanningseveralyears.ThecaseConversely,AnimalControl cametolightafteragoodOfficers will be considered manda- Samaritanspokeup.Remember,toryreportersandrequiredto ifyouseesomething,sayreportknownorsuspectedchild somethingtoauthorities.Thereabuse or neglect immediately to the wereseveralotheranimalprotec-central abuse hotline. Current law tion bills that did not get a hearingdictatesthat,perstatute39.201, thissessionincludingthePetevery human being in the state of RetailSales billledbySenatorKate MacFall, pictured with Pace, is the Florida is required to report known Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford and Rep.Florida Senior State Director for the or suspected child abuse to the cen- SamKillebrew,R-WinterHaven.Humane Society of the United States. tral abuse hotline. This legislative The bill would have prohibited theKate regularly keeps us factually up-to- change will make ACOs mandato- retail sale of cats and dogs through-date on animal advocacy issues, here atThe New Barker. She also lets us know ry reporters and clarify that crimi- out our state. With almost 80 localwhen the support from our readers is nal penalties exist for those who fail ordinances currently on the books,needed to help push through a bill. to report.it is clear Floridians are becomingwww.HumaneSociety.org Another victory this session is increasingly aware of the cruelty ofthe Injured Police Canine bill led puppymillsandthepuppy-mill-bySenatorTomWright,R-New to-pet-store pipeline.52THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'