To: Marco Rubio (Senator for Florida)

 Dear Mr. Rubio,

As a former lawyer in Venezuela, I understand the importance of the rule of law.  As an immigrant to the United States seeking to leave the chaos that resulted when the rule of law broke down in my country, I am uniquely aware of how the respect for the law in the United States contributes to its greatness as a nation.  And as an animal lover and dog owner that recently suffered the devastating loss of my pet due to the reckless behavior of another, I am now unfortunately aware of the blind spots in the law in Florida when it comes to protecting animals.

My name is Jessica Tacoronte.  I live in a "safe neighborhood" where kids play outside all the time, people exercise and walk at all times of the day and night, stop each other and talk about their days and are generally very neighborly. Our neighborhood, Spring Isle at Avalon Park, Orlando, FL, is gated, and we have private security patrols.  We have rules for the neighborhood that are strictly enforced – fines for speeding, towing if cars are parked on the wrong side of the road, etc.  We have strong rules, don't we? However, even with all these rules, an older man with impaired vision was speeding while driving in front of my house and tragically ran over my princess, Rossie Maria, my dog.  I am devastated.  After recklessly hitting Rossie, the driver attempted to flee, but our neighbors stopped him.  

 The driver was not respecting the speed limit, did not slow down for the speed bump right in front of my house, and slammed into my Rossie when she broke free while I was preparing for a bike ride.  Despite the many witnesses, law enforcement officers advised that there is nothing they can do to hold the driver responsible because Florida law does not consider what he did a crime, as my Rossie is considered an object.  That needs to change.

How a dog can by an object for lack of feelings, soul and gist?

I have seen this country using them (especially the C.I.A.) to detect bombs, to avoid drug trafficking, to bring life and support to handicap people, serving as emotional support or just being part of tons of families. They are heros, not objects, objects that money can not buy. They belong to God, not to the government, so consider them as beings to bring peace for those who are suffering for their lost. 

If we live in a democracy, don't we have the choice to choose who will be part of our family? Some people, mostly in Florida adopt pets instead of having kids for many reasons, it is a personal choice. As everyone in the world, we need protection. We are millions of people suffering the same and the pain gets worts because the impunity. The moral damage is huge so, there is no protection for us? I stop working, eating, living, I felt in a deep depression and it has been happening to tons of families. We need your help. Florida must be a sample of happiness because millions of people come every year to Disney World. 

The driver’s reckless behavior just happened to have harmed my Rossie - it could have just as easily been someone’s child.  By having no law in place to protect animals that are victims of reckless and careless behavior, we encourage people to behave carelessly.  And the effects are just as tragic – I have lost an animal that was a member of my family for years, that I loved and cared for, and that loved me back.  By allowing the driver to escape any responsibility for ending Rossie’s life, we condone his behavior.

Some may say that I could pursue the driver in civil court – but the cost to file a lawsuit and hire an attorney far outweighs what I, and most other people, can afford. As a result, there is no deterrent towards reckless and careless behavior towards people’s pets.  Violators, like the driver who killed my Rossie, can continue their bad behavior safe in the knowledge that they will never be held accountable.  That is why I am advocating for a change in the law. The law should appreciate that animals have a right to exist free of the threat of careless or reckless people, but it currently does not.  

We need to change our law in Florida to reflect our humanitarian approach toward animals and our status as a civil society.  The change I am advocating for is to have the criminal law treat the reckless endangerment of a animal as a crime so that any person that takes the life of a pet in a reckless or careless manner can be held responsible for their actions, even if it is just by a small fine or similar penalty.  That way, perhaps people would think twice before doing things like driving when then should not be, or speeding in a residential neighborhood.  Please join me and advocate with the Florida legislature to put these changes into action.  Thank you!

Jessica Tacoronte