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RESOLUTION URGING FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO AMEND SECTION 828.122, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO CLASSIFY FIGHTING OR BAITING ANIMALS AS A FIRST-DEGREE FELONY

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WHEREAS, animal fighting and/or baiting are especially heinous and intolerable acts of cruelty to animals; and
WHEREAS, �trunking� is one particularly heinous form of animal fighting and/or baiting; and
WHEREAS, section 828.122, Florida Statutes, currently makes the crime of animal fighting and/or baiting a third-degree felony, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 5 years and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000.00; and
WHEREAS, penalties for animal fighting and/or baiting should be increased to reflect the severity and heinousness of the act,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. This Board urges the Florida Legislature to amend section 828.122, Florida Statutes, to classify fighting or baiting animals as a first-degree felony.
Section 2. This Board directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, Chair and Members of the MiamiDade County State Legislative Delegation, and the Executive Directors of the Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities.
Section 3. This Board directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2014 State Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.