Florida lawmakers hoping to discourage people from keeping dogs tied up or abandoned during natural or manmade disasters cleared a bill on Monday that would jail or fine those who abandon man's best friend. ANIMALS RESCUED FROM FLORENCE FLOODWATERS, AFTER PETS LEFT BEHIND OR FORGOTTEN“We’ve seen these three hurricanes and seen numerous dogs left tethered to different things,” Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, who sponsored the bill, said during a committee hearing on Monday, according to the News Service of Florida. “We want to give dogs a fighting chance.”A measure was approved 5-0 by the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday. Local counties reportedly already have laws in place to stop dog owners from leaving their pets restrained during storms, but that doesn't seem to have stopped some Florida locals. We are going to hold accountable those who we can prove left their dogs behind in the storm."

Source: Fox News March 20, 2019 01:07 UTC