Everyone deserves a second chance, even dogs.
Inspired by public outcry in support of a furry friend named Padi that faced euthanasia after biting off a part of a 4-year-old boy’s ear, Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, sponsored the bill aimed at giving dogs and their owners a fighting chance to appeal the once automatic death sentence.
The bill, which requires all cases involving dogs causing serious injury to humans to be resolved in accordance to a “dangerous dog classification,” passed both the Florida House and the Senate unanimously and was signed by Gov. Rick Scott.
“We don’t just euthanize an animal right away,” said Vernon Sawyer, Alachua County Animal Services director. “There’s a process to it and there’s an appeal process.”
Alachua County currently has one pending "dangerous dog" case.