Advocacy
Standing Up for Our Animal Friends
![Laurie Hood fights for all animals Alaqua's Laurie Hood fights for all animals](https://alaqua.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Laurie-Hood-fights-for-all-animals.jpg)
Being a voice for animals is an important overlay of our ongoing work, both regionally and nationally.
Legislation that Alaqua has advocated for includes the following:
- The Manatee Protection Act, H.R. 4946, officially upgrading the West Indian Manatee from “threatened” to “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- National PACT Act prohibiting animal cruelty
- Banning the declawing of cats
- Preventing the hunt and poaching of the Florida Black Bear, and eliminating the shark fin trade in Florida
- Emergency sheltering of persons with pets in an evacuation
- Punishment for injury to police canines and equines
- Florida pet store “preemption law” banning retail pet sales
- Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act protecting panther habitats
![Florida Humane Lobby Day Alaqua Animal Refuge supports Advocacy](https://alaqua.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Florida-Humane-Lobby-Day.jpg)