Remember back in August when there was a community uproar because someone left a dog on a roof of a factory building?
Well, what happened back then is soon to become illegal.
At the time, animal rights activists were upset because a dog named Burro was left on the roof of G&G Produce on Northwest 23rd Street during a hot summer day in Miami, but the owner who left the dog there couldn't be charged with anything because that technically wasn't illegal.
However, that's soon to change.
The Miami-Dade County Public Safety and Healthcare Administration Committee approved an ordinance on Wednesday that prohibits people from keeping their dogs on rooftops and levies a fine of $500 if they are caught.
According to a press release from County Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz, who introduced the measure,
Commissioner José “Pepe” Díaz sponsored said ordinance in response to the community outcry that was raised concerns of animal cruelty with the case of “Burro”, the dog that came into the limelight in late July of 2012, after being kept by its owners on the rooftop of a business warehouse, enduring the scorching heat of the South Florida summer for security purposes.Where previously it was not unlawful to have a dog on a rooftop as long as it has water, food and shelter; now it shall be unlawful to house, maintain, keep, or otherwise have a dog on the rooftop of any building, as per Section 5-21.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida. However, it is provided under this ordinance, that it shall not be a violation of this section for a dog to temporarily accompany a responsible party on the rooftop.
This proposed county law will move forward to the Board of County Commissioners for a final vote in December.
So, for Pete's sake, people, bring your dogs inside and off your roof.
