Friday February 3, 2012, 4:22 pm
done!!!!!

Friday February 3, 2012, 4:31 pm
I cannot sign and noted, thank you!

Friday February 3, 2012, 5:05 pm
NOT ALLOWED TO SIGN

Friday February 3, 2012, 5:17 pm
I cannot sign and noted, thank you!

Friday February 3, 2012, 5:29 pm
noted...but can't sign as it's only for Florida residents. How low can people sink...........

Friday February 3, 2012, 5:53 pm
I can't sign.

Friday February 3, 2012, 6:08 pm
could only note this

Friday February 3, 2012, 6:41 pm
noted but could not sign. I guess they can't deal with all the extra signatures that they would get. LOL Bless you all.

Friday February 3, 2012, 6:42 pm
Sorry- this is for Florida Residents only. Didn't see that when I posted it.

Friday February 3, 2012, 7:17 pm
Only FL residents--Poo! Sorry couldn't sign, thanks Lindsey

Friday February 3, 2012, 7:48 pm
Nightmare!

Friday February 3, 2012, 9:12 pm
Washingtonian...but my heart and prayers are there!!

Friday February 3, 2012, 9:38 pm
Signed and noted, thanks.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 1:19 am
only US

Saturday February 4, 2012, 5:51 am
This action alert is for residents of the following states only: Florida

Saturday February 4, 2012, 8:24 am
Signed.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 8:37 am
Signed.
Anything to help our friends the animals.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 9:00 am
Done.Only people in Florida can sign I have friends there so used their address as I am there yearly.Love it too!

Saturday February 4, 2012, 9:27 am
Only able to note

Saturday February 4, 2012, 10:42 am
S&N

Saturday February 4, 2012, 11:29 am
I wish I could have signed this.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 12:50 pm
US only :(

Saturday February 4, 2012, 1:47 pm
Do read this view from Nathan Winograd, NoKillSolutions. Hoarders will NOT be allowed to take animals.
http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=7475

Saturday February 4, 2012, 2:06 pm
For Florida only, darnit. Thanks Lindsey.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 2:23 pm
Signed and noted.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 2:36 pm
I wish I could've signed.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 2:56 pm
Noted, but unable to sign - US only. Thanks Lindsey!

Saturday February 4, 2012, 2:58 pm
Some rescue act. I thought it was for FL but tried so sign just in case. Alas My signature was rebuffed. Goos luck though.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 3:28 pm
Not able to. Oh well...

Saturday February 4, 2012, 3:36 pm
Noted, not able to sign only for Florida residents.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 3:58 pm
Noted. So sorry, not possible to sign :((

Saturday February 4, 2012, 4:36 pm
Sneaky dirty dogs. Trying to outsmart us.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 4:49 pm
COULD NOT SIGN

Saturday February 4, 2012, 7:38 pm
Unable to sign as US only.We need an international petition to help these poor animals

Saturday February 4, 2012, 8:06 pm
Noted and signed.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 9:53 pm
noted but unbale to sign, not florida

Saturday February 4, 2012, 10:35 pm
I signed, although I do not live in Fl. Not crazy about PETA either.

Saturday February 4, 2012, 11:17 pm
Signed and noted. Thanks, Lindsey!

Sunday February 5, 2012, 12:09 am
Noted unable to sign only for US resident

Sunday February 5, 2012, 1:06 am
Can't sign but noted, thanks.

Sunday February 5, 2012, 4:50 am
Sorry, can't sign !

Sunday February 5, 2012, 6:00 am
Sadly unable to sign as I do not reside in the US.

Sunday February 5, 2012, 6:13 am
Signed

Sunday February 5, 2012, 6:41 am
Hope the bill doesn't pass...

Sunday February 5, 2012, 9:50 am
I can't sign!

Sunday February 5, 2012, 11:04 am
Noted & Signed

Sunday February 5, 2012, 1:55 pm
Florida only

Sunday February 5, 2012, 5:18 pm
Noted! For Florida residents ONLY!!!!!!!!!:((((((((((((

Sunday February 5, 2012, 11:09 pm
Noted & Signed. Thanks Lindsey.

Monday February 6, 2012, 8:29 am
Could not sign...I pray this bill does NOT pass. PLEASE, protect these poor animals, they DON'T deserve this!!!!!!!

Monday February 6, 2012, 10:54 am
Why are "animal lovers" opposing a bill that makes it illegal for shelters to kill animals that have a place to go? PETA's claims are completely FALSE. In fact, it is intentionally crafted to misrepresent the bill and make you think that animals will be harmed. As an animal advocate, you should ask yourself why a national organization claiming to advocate for the "ethical" treatment of animals would oppose such a bill? Is it because PETA kills 97% of the animals in it VA shelter, over 2,000 every year?

As indicated in a recent Associated Press poll, seven out of every ten Americans do not believe that shelters should kill healthy and treatable animals. But members of the general public are frequently under the illusion that animal shelters would never need a law that legally requires them to transfer animals to qualified rescues instead of killing them, because not to do so simply defies logic, shelters would never act irrationally and immorally by wasting taxpayer money by killing and disposing of animals that rescue groups were willing to save. However, the consistent response from rescue groups in Florida, and many other states like Washington, New York, and California, is that shelters frequently make it difficult or impossible for rescue groups to save animals.

The following are some quotes from a survey of 600 Florida rescue groups across the state:
One rescue group says: “Polk [County] Animal Control makes the determination on a case-by-case basis often preferring to kill an animal than releasing it to ANYONE”

Another states: “If staff are having a bad day or feel like denying you access for any reason, they will simply refuse to let you rescue an animal, even if it was allowed beforehand.”

And, finally, another rescue groups says: “[These] situations arise constantly. Small rescue groups, especially, don't know where they stand day to day, and cannot rely on continued support or cooperation from staff. You feel the need to constantly 'suck up' to the person in charge, which still doesn't guarantee you will be allowed to rescue the animal(s) you have identified. You find yourself trying to time your rescue work when the kindest people are on duty, avoiding the staff who are rescue-unfriendly or who don't want to process any additional paperwork.”

These sentiments are representative of the 63% of respondents that indicated at least one Florida state shelter refused to work cooperatively with them and then turn around and kill the very animals they were willing to save.

Instead of voluntarily working with rescue groups, shelters instead argue that a rescue access law will increase costs, lead to hoarding, and lead to dangerous dogs being released to the public.

This is a complete fabrication. These shelters fail to discuss the cost savings and additional revenue that would result from the bill, namely, reduced killing, reduced carcass disposal, and increased revenues from transfers. The bill specifically allows shelters to charge rescue groups a fee. This was not included in any of their calculations. California also has a constitutional provision against unfunded state mandates and their rescue access law survived a challenge, as the CA Dept. of Finance analysis and the Commission on State Mandates specifically found the provision was revenue neutral (with savings that outweighed any costs). It also found that shelters were grossly inflating costs and ignoring savings and additional revenues.

Secondly, a rescue group access law does not expose animals to undue risk of hoarding because animal control entities have power to investigate where there is probable cause that animal abuse and neglect is occurring. And, in fact, SB 818 specifically excludes organizations with a volunteer, staff member, director, and/or officer with a conviction for animal neglect, cruelty, and/or dog fighting, and suspends the organization while such charges are pending.

Moreover, there is no established causal link between rescue group access laws and hoarding. First, there are many low or no-cost sources of animals; there is no need to pay shelter adoption fees for the purpose of acquiring animals.

Most hoarding situations involve individuals who take on too many animals; the rescue groups to which Florida shelters must release animals will be qualified 501(c)(3) rescue and adoption organizations. Despite the claim that this is just a “tax status,” such organizations are composed of networks of individuals run by boards of directors who have established procedures for getting animals the care they need and adopted into homes. In order to obtain 501(c)(3) status, such organizations have to provide information about their board members and operating procedures. They must also show evidence of public support for what they do. For instance, by showing the IRS the number of volunteers they have and the extent of donations they receive. And to retain their IRS status, rescue and adoption organizations must abide by the law, including anticruelty laws.

Furthermore, they would have to register with several Florida agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Revenue, and Department of Agriculture Division of Consumer Services. In other words, there are plenty of safeguards in place.

In summary, in the absence of any legal mechanism to require that shelters work with rescue groups, rescuers have a much more difficult time trying to save lives and improve shelters and are fearful of the shelters' unchecked power to retaliate against them. The result is that animals who are neglected and even abused in shelters are more likely not to be helped, and animals who would otherwise be rescued end up being killed. That is a violation of shelters’ fiduciary duty to both the animals and taxpayers they serve, and the reason why SB 818 is necessary to put an end to this arbitrary practice, and guarantee the right of rescue groups to save shelter animals.

Monday February 6, 2012, 3:21 pm
Thank you.

Wednesday February 8, 2012, 8:08 pm
Is anyone reading this Bill? If you did you would learn that you are being BLATANTLY DECEIVED by P.E.T.A. There is no need for me to repeat the post IN FAVOR (above) of this LIFE SAVING Bill. My only hope for the sake of the animals that you research P.E.T.A. You will find P.E.T.A., the originators of this petition is the real enemy to companion animals; DOGS and CATS!

Thursday February 9, 2012, 10:29 pm
Isn't it fascinating when people use words to promote, exactly the opposite of what they are saying?