Activists stood up for Miami-Dade's animals when voters approved adopting a new tax that will help turn the county's animal shelter into a no-kill facility, according to preliminary county voting results.
At the polls, 64.49 percent of voters were in favor of item #240, which will serve as a recommendation to the county's lawmakers.
The measure, sponsored by The Pets' Trust, recommends creating a tax of $10 per $100,000 of property value to go towards free or low-cost spaying and neutering of animals that come into Miami-Dade Animal Services. The ultimate goal is to save the 20,000 animals that are euthanized every year at the shelter.
According to a five-year report from Animal Services, 35,922 animals were brought to the shelter from fiscal year 2009 to 2010 alone -- only 13,942 animals were adopted, transferred to a partner facility, or reunited with their owner, while the remaining 20,112 animals were euthanized.
"The goal of the Animal Services Department is to end the euthanasia of healthy adoptable shelter pets. Decreasing shelter intake is the only way to accomplish that," according to the report.
Miami-Dade elections officials said they hoped to have official results verified Wednesday after residents voted late into the night when long lines developed at the polls.