Res No 107-16-14662RESOLUTION NO.107-16-14662
A Resolution of the City of South Miami encouraging stricter enforcement of
Miami-Dade County Ordinance,Section 5-4,regarding cruelty to animals,to
address abandonment of animals in the Everglades.
WHEREAS,since 2010,thousands of animals -mainly dogsandcats-have been
abandoned andlefttodieina remote part of the Everglades;and
WHEREAS,irresponsible ownerswhoareunableor unwilling to continue caringfortheir
petsimplypullovertotheside of theroad,openthedoor,andshoveoutthe unwanted animal;and
WHEREAS,some dogs wait faithfully at that spot,sure their family willbe back toget
them,others are hit by cars,and some simply starve to death;and
WHEREAS,itis illegal in Florida to abandon an animal,pursuant to Section 828.13 of the
Florida Statutes;and
WHEREAS,Section 5-4(6)of the Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances ("Cruelty to
Animals Ordinance")states that it shall be unlawful:
"For a responsible party to abandon ananimalinastreetor other public place,orto abandon
ananimal if itis maimed,infirm,ordiseased.For purposes of this section,"abandon"means
toforsakean animal for which oneis responsible without providing foritscare,necessary
sustenance,protection,and shelter.";and
WHEREAS,thistype of cruelty is unacceptable,anditis time for Miami-Dade County to
acknowledgetheanimaldumpingepidemicandtakestepstocurbthispracticethroughstricter
enforcement of its Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA:
Section 1.TheCity of SouthMiamihereby encourages Miami-Dade Countytocurb
abandonment of animalsintheEvergladesbystricterenforcementandtoimprovesignage
highlighted,of Section 5-4(6),Miami-Dade CountyCode of Ordinances.
Section 2.TheCityCommissiondoesfurtherdirecttheCityClerktosendacopy of this
Resolution totheMayor of Miami-Dade County,CarlosA.Gimenez.
Section 3.Severability.If anysectionclause,sentence,orphrase of thisresolutionisfor
anyreasonheld invalid or unconstitutional byacourt of competent jurisdiction,theholdingshall
notaffectthevalidity of theremainingportions of thisResolution.
Section 4.Effective Date.ThisResolutionshallbeeffectiveimmediatelyuponadoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7 th day of June 2016.
Pg.2 of Res.No.107-16-14662
READ ANI^CPPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUA^CEGALIT3
EXEC^TON THEREC
APPROVED:0puf0u&<3
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:5-0
Mayor Stoddard:Yea
Vice Mayor Harris:Yea
Commissioner Edmond:Yea
Commissioner Liebman:Yea
Commissioner Welsh:Yea