b'What You Do Makes A Difference. You Just Have to Decide What Kind of Difference You Want to Make. *The 2026 Florida legislative session is scheduled to convenewell-funded,thoroughlyself-interestedfoes. Thepuppymill on Tuesday, January 13 and end on Friday, March 13, 2026.owners, trophy hunting lobbyists, factory farmers and others Florida representatives forwho let animals suffer to expand their profits, spending millions Humane World forof dollars and countless hours, to support certain candidatesAnimals (formerly Humanecandidates they know will get right to work for them once they Society of the United States)take their seats in government. But with you, our readers, we are working on a bill thatcan get political for animals.would make it a felony toThe stakes are high for animal protection, and here is what commit animal cruelty in frontwe can expect for the 2026 Florida legislative session:of a minor. This bill would also lCrack down on animal fighting (the aforementioned increase animal fighting from aH.R. 3946/S.1454). Level 1 to a Level 5 on the lStand up for Floridas wildlife. Criminal Punishment Code lEnd the work of bad breeders, by preserving the 86 scoresheet.local pet retail sales ban ordinances in Florida.HumaneWorldAction Funds political action commit-tee (PAC) in Florida is a pow- Y Humane Lobby Day in Tallahassee, hosted by Humane World for Animals and erful tool to support the pro- the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, Otto MacFall. animallawmakingwedesper- 2026. Save the date and plan on attending. For more information, contact the ately need at the State Capitol.Florida Senior State Director of Humane World for Animals, Kate MacFall via email: TheFloridaPACprovidesdirectfinancialsupporttokey,kmacfall@humaneworld.orgThe ALDF files high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, provides free humane-mindedlegislators,tobuildstrongcoalitionsforlegal assistance and training to prosecutors in their fight against animal cruelty. animals and ensure that they have a voice in the political andwww.aldf.org legislative processes.*Jane Goodall quote Everyyear,animaladvocatesfindthemselvesupagainst Prohibit Dog Racing NationwideHelp End Animal FightingEvery year, thousands of roosters and dogs suffer and die in fighting pits across the United States. Despite existing laws, organized animal fighting continues to occur across the country. AnewbillH.R.3946/S.1454,theFighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Actwill strengthen enforcement against this cruel andAn historic bill to end dog racing in the United States was reintro-criminal enterprise by:duced on August 22, 2025 in the U.S. House of Representatives. ThelProviding increased protection for roosters byGreyhoundProtection Act(H.R.5017)aimstobancommercial clarifying their status under the Animal Welfare Act.Greyhound racing, live lure training, open field coursing, and outlawlGiving law enforcement and citizens stronger toolsthe gambling on Greyhound races simulcast from other countries. to stop animal fighters.Sponsored by Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Randy Fine (R-FL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), and Don Davis (D-NC), this ground-The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida is asking ourbreaking measure is endorsed by over 250 shelters, animal protection readerstopleasecontacttheirMembersofCongress,groups and civic organizations across the country. GREY2KUSA has today, and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 3946/S. 1454.asked our readers to please write your Representative in Washington, The following is a sample email. I am a constituent and liveD.C., kindly urging them to co-sponsor this important legislation.in [city, state]. I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 3946/S. 1454 and help end animal fighting once and for all. This bill will protectFor more information, visit www.GREY2KUSA.org animals from abuse and give law enforcement the resources theyY Find Your Representative:need to crack down on this violent and criminal enterprise.https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative Please share with ARFF any responses you receive by emailing: arff@arff.org24 THE NEW BARKERwww.TheNewBarker.com'