Broward County One Strike Law

Broward County, Florida doesn't seem to like animals.

They make it as hard as possible to reclaim and adopt animals. If you don't jump through spiked, flaming hoops, then they just kill your microchipped dog and blame you.

Broward County also has a nifty law that could get your dog killed, even if your dog was not the true aggressor.

It's a 2008 law in response to a loose dog fatally wounding a loose cat. While cat owners were allowed to have low standards of responsibilities, dog owners had foisted upon them a draconian law that condemns dogs to death who kill other animals.

The law does not have exemptions, and two recent court cases show that.

Earlier this year, Gigi, a leashed 9-yr-old Labrador Retriever mix was being walked by her owners when an off-leash Yorkshire Terrier ran up to the dog. During the altercation, Gigi killed the Yorkshire Terrier.

In another case, Brandie, a Husky, was being walked on leash when an off-leash teacup Poodle ran up and barked aggressively at her. The dog bit the poodle and killed her.

Now both dogs are on death row because of the 2008 law, and their owners are fighting for their lives.

There are times when euthanasia is appropriate. There are times when gross negligence should be punished. There are times when a dog is so dangerous, they pose a threat to four and two legged creatures and should be placed in a sanctuary or responsible home or killed.

This is not those times. These are not those dogs. These are family pets who belong to responsible owners who followed the leash law. They are being held culpable for the irresponsible behavior of two small dog owners who, for whatever reason, allowed their dogs to run loose and approach, aggressively, larger dogs.

I hope the court rules in their favor. While I am saddened by the deaths of the smaller dogs, they would be alive today had two owners decided to leash their dogs. The owners following the law should not be held culpable.

Broward County Animal Control Wants to Kill Your Pets

That is my conclusion after reading this:

Animal Control said, their employees are not obligated to ask the person on the other line if they are the owners of any animal, and are not obligated to inform owners they have three days to pick up the animal, and if they do not, that animal will be euthanized.

If the mission of Broward County Animal Control was to "make it as difficult as possible to reunite owners with lost pets, kill animals with microchips, euthanize animals in 3 days, and not ask people if they are the owner of a lost animal" then their above logic would be rational. It would not be morally acceptable or right.

Their website says this:

The mission of the Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division is to promote responsible pet ownership, Animal Care, community safety, increase adoptions, and reduce pet overpopulation. The Division treats the symptoms of irresponsible pet ownership while seeking to eliminate the causes by compassionately using education and enforcement.

Finding new homes for abandoned cats and dogs, returning lost pets to their owners, ensuring public health and safety

If they want to improve the rate at which they re-unite owners with their pets, then it behooves them to take that extra step and a) ask people who call if they believe a found dog is theirs and b) notify them that they have a measly 3 days to pick the dog up.

If they want to improve their adoptions, they probably should reconsider killing healthy, adoptable dogs after only three days. They should also avoid killing animals with microchips. Just saying.

Making it difficult to reclaim a dog is not in the best interest of the dog. It is not saving lives, it is a death sentence.

And to owners, increase the chance of reclaiming your dog or cat with collars, id tags and microchips. They may not be a guarantee (Broward County Animal Control apparently kills chipped cats) but it is better insurance than hoping animal control will hold onto your dog for more than 3 days.