Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed two new animal protection bills into law—Senate Bill 150, known as Trooper’s Law, and House Bill 255, known as Dexter’s Law—aimed at strengthening penalties for animal cruelty and abandonment. Trooper’s Law makes it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outdoors during a declared natural disaster or evacuation. Offenders face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The law was named after a dog rescued by Florida Highway Patrol after being left chained during Hurricane Milton. The legislation also classifies the failure to provide confined animals with basic necessities—such as food, water, and exercise—and abandonment as first-degree misdemeanors. Dexter’s Law, inspired by the fatal abuse of a recently adopted shelter dog in Pinellas County, increases criminal penalties for aggravated animal cruelty. It introduces a 1.25 sentencing multiplier for such offenses and establishes Florida’s first statewide animal abuser database to help prevent repeat abuse and improve community safety. “Across Florida, we have seen horrifying instances of animal cruelty that demand a stronger response,” says Gov. DeSantis in a statement. “I was proud to sign Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law today. Florida stands by man’s best friend.” Both laws aim to provide law enforcement and prosecutors with stronger legal tools to address animal neglect and abuse, particularly during emergencies and in cases of repeated cruelty. The new statutes reflect a broader commitment to improving animal welfare protections across the state. For more information on the legislative trend of veterinary reporting in animal cruelty and the various obligations for veterinarians across the country when these laws are passed, check out "Fighting against animal cruelty" by Kris Otteman, DVM, DABVP, CAWA; Linda Fielder, CAWA, and Emily Lewis, Esq. MSEL.
