Also, here's what I mean about eliminating repetition. It's untested though.

#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use warnings;
use CGI qw/:standard/;

$CGI::POST_MAX = 1024 * 1;

my %fields = (
    fstname        => [ first   => 40 ],
    lstname        => [ last    => 40 ],
    adda           => [ 1ad1a   => 60 ],
    addb           => [ 1ad1b   => 60 ],
    city           => [ 1ad2    => 60 ],
    state          => [ 1ad3    => 20 ],
    zip            => [ 1ad4    =>  5 ],
    email          => [ eadd    => 70 ],
    phone          => [ pnum    => 16 ],
    residence      => [ residence     =>   9 ],
    yardtype       => [ yardtype      =>  16 ],
    yardtypeother  => [ yardtypeother =>  40 ],
    landlord       => [ landlord      =>  40 ],
    preadda        => [ 2ad1    => 60 ],
    precity        => [ 2ad2    => 60 ],
    prestate       => [ 2ad3    => 20 ],
    prezip         => [ 2ad4    =>  5 ],
    alone          => [ alone   => 14 ],
    household      => [ household     => 100 ],
    vet            => [ vet     => 45 ],
    pet            => [ pet     =>  3 ],
    petname        => [ petnme  => 30 ],
    currentpets    => [ currentpets   =>  60 ],
    previouspets   => [ previouspets  =>  60 ],
    references     => [ references    => 140 ],
    ok             => [ ok      =>  7 ],
);

my %values;

for my $key ( keys %fields ) {
    my ( $post_param, $max_length ) = @{ $fields{$key} }
    my $value = substr( param($post_param), 0, $max_length );
    $value =~ s/[\|\/\\}{\[\]\(\)\*&\^%\$\#<>;:]/ /g;
    $values{$key} = $value;
}

$values{email} =~ tr/[A-Z]/[a-z]/;

## Check email address
if ( $values{email} ne "" and $values{email} !~ /\@/ ) {
    print "Content-type: text/plain\n\n";
    print "error (Your email is invalid, please check and resubmit you
+r application)";
    exit;
}

## Check data
my $total_form = $values{fstname} . $values{lstname} . $values{email};

if ( length($total_form) < 25 ) {
    print "Content-type: text/plain\n\n";
    print "error (The form was incomplete, please check that you fille
+d in your full first and last name, and email address, then resubmit 
+your application.)";
    exit;
}
   
my $recipient = "email1\@emailsrv1, email2\@emailsrv2, email3\@emailsr
+v3";

## Create the email message body
my $email_message = <<"MESSAGE"
To: $values{recipient}
Subject: Adoption Application
From: $values{fstname} $values{lstname} <$values{email}>

First name: $values{fstname}
Last name: $values{lstname}
Current address:
$values{adda}
$values{addb}
$values{city}
$values{state}
$values{zip}
_________________________________________________
Email address: $values{email}
Phone number: $values{phone}
Type of residence: $values{residence}
Yard: $values{yardtype}
Landlord contact info: $values{landlord}
Previous address:
$values{preadda}
$values{precity}
$values{prestate}
$values{prezip}
How many hours will pet be alone: $values{alone}
Name and age of people in household: $values{household}
Veterinarian: $values{vet}
Dog or Cat: $values{pet}
Name of pet requested: $values{petname}
Current pets: $values{currentpets}
Previous pets: $values{previouspets}
References: $values{references}
Aggree to consent form: $values{ok}
MESSAGE

## Send email
my $mailprog = '/usr/sbin/sendmail';
open my $mailhandle, '|-' "$mailprog -t"
    or die "Could not open mailhandle";
print $mailhandle $email_message;
close $mailhandle;

print "Location: application-submitted\n\n";
exit;
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