LOXAHATCHEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced proposal to protect puppies in Florida. In partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the state will develop standard practices to ensure ethical dog breeding. Through this proposal, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation will be directed to license dog breeders and hold accountable puppy mills that abuse dogs, whether by overbreeding them, leaving them out in extreme weather, cramming them into small cages, or limiting their access to water.
“In Florida, we will always fight to protect man’s best friend,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The proposal we announced today will end unethical puppy mills, hold accountable abusive breeders, and help shelter dogs find loving homes.”
Additional proposal actions includes:
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Establishing a hotline for individuals to call and report abuse by breeders to better crack down on these bad actors.
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Requiring pet stores to offer their space to local shelters for adoption before they use that space to sell dogs from puppy mills. As shelters across the state face overcrowding, offering animals for adoption at pet stores will help save them from being euthanized.
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Developing additional legislation that provides for increased penalties for individuals who abuse or torture animals in front of a minor.
Earlier this year, Governor DeSantis signed Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law:
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Trooper, who is now happily living with his new family, was abandoned on the side of the road as Hurricane Milton was barreling down. If not for the Florida Highway patrol, he would have most likely died. In Florida, it is now a felony to abandon and restrain a dog during a state of emergency.
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Dexter’s Law was passed after a dog was brutally killed just days after adoption. Florida now has a sentencing multiplier for anyone torturing, mutilating, or killing a dog. A database was also created of those convicted of animal abuse, so shelters know not to let these evil people adopt pets. Media Release: Office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
