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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the Gertrude Maxwell Save a Pet Act;

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providing a short title; creating s. 570.97, F.S.;

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creating a direct-support organization for the Department

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of Agriculture and Consumer Services; providing for the

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organization and operation of the direct-support

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organization; providing for the purpose of the direct-

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support organization; providing an effective date.

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     WHEREAS, it is estimated that over 800,000 homeless,

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discarded, abandoned, stray, and unclaimed dogs and cats are

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euthanized in the state each year, and

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     WHEREAS, in 7 years one female cat and her offspring can

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theoretically produce 420,000 cats, and in 6 years one female dog

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and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs, and

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     WHEREAS, the cost to spay or neuter pet and feral cats is

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about $20-$70 per cat, while the approximate cost to capture,

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house, feed, and eventually euthanize a homeless animal is about

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$100, and

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     WHEREAS, reducing euthanasia of unwanted animals can save

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lives of companion animals and potential service animals and save

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tax dollars and many homeless animals can be trained as service

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animals and therapy animals, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Gertrude Maxwell

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Save a Pet Act."

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     Section 2.  Section 570.97, Florida Statutes, is created to

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read:

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     570.97 Gertrude Maxwell Save a Pet Direct-Support

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Organization.--The Gertrude Maxwell Save a Pet Direct-Support

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Organization is created within the Department of Agriculture and

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Consumer Services and shall be governed by this section and ss.

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570.902 and 570.903. The purpose of this direct-support

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organization is to prevent animal cruelty, assist pet

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overpopulation management, provide grants to animal shelters for

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the purpose of spaying and neutering, reduce the need for

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euthanasia of animals, and support other pet-oriented endeavors

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when the board determines a need.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.