JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Thursday, a community meeting at Jacksonville City Hall drew a packed room of residents, rescue volunteers, shelter advocates and city officials to discuss a new animal care ordinance heading to a vote next week. If passed, it would cut Jacksonville Animal Care & Protective Services’ stray hold window from six days to three .

That means any stray animal brought into the shelter could be made available for adoption or transferred to a rescue after just 72 hours.

Supporters argue the shorter window would:

Relieve overcrowding at ACPS, which has operated at or near capacity for months.

Move animals into homes faster, reducing stress on the shelter.

Improve outcomes for adoptable pets by avoiding long, stressful kenneling periods.

Critics counter that the propos

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