I have been brought up in a home where the fear of rabies prevents me from fulfilling a simple, yet profound desire: to interact fearlessly with the friendly fauna that make up our regional ecosystem in Orlando, FL - raccoons, squirrels, foxes, and the like. I believe that this unfounded fear not only bars me, but also many others in our community, from forming meaningful and enriching connections with these wonderful creatures.

The perceived threat of rabies has been shaped mostly by misinformation and unfamiliarity. The reality is that comprehensive rabies vaccination campaigns have proven very effective. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human rabies cases in the United States have plummeted over the last century, thanks to effective pet vaccinations and wildlife management.

This petition seeks to encourage our local government to invest in more extensive rabies vaccination campaigns for wild animals within our area. Such preventative measures will not only contribute to the well-being of our wildlife population but will also foster a safer environment for humans and animals to coexist harmoniously.

Let's put the 'friendly' back in 'wildlife' and break the erroneous barrier that separates humans from interacting more intimately with animals. Make Orlando a safe space for fostering human-animal relationships. Please sign this petition and ignite the change.