FL S0980

Requires public and private animal shelters, humane organizations, and animal control agencies to adopt written policies ensuring lost/stray pets are screened for identification (tags, microchips, tattoos) and owners are notified within 48 hours

Mandates shelters provide appropriate care for all animals in custody, make healthy and safe animals available for adoption, and assess medical/behavioral needs on a case-by-case basis regardless of breed

Expresses legislative concern that shelter practices focused primarily on live release rates can compromise public safety and animal welfare, potentially leading to overcrowding, disease outbreaks, or release of dangerous dogs

Authorizes shelter employees and contractors to implant dogs and cats with radio-frequency identification (microchip) devices and contact registered owners to verify pet ownership

Requires shelters to extend stray hold periods following presidential disaster declarations or gubernatorial states of emergency, and to follow Best Practices guidelines published in 2018 by Florida Animal Control Association and Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations