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Florida Strengthens Penalties for Pet Abandonment and Cruelty Ahead of Hurricane Season

The new laws, shaped by two high-profile rescue cases, will take effect in 2025 to deter leaving animals behind during disasters

Overview

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law on May 28 at Big Dog Ranch Rescue outside Royal Palm Beach Trooper’s Law, inspired by a terrier rescued during Hurricane Milton, takes effect Oct. 1, 2025, and carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for abandoning pets in disasters
  • Dexter’s Law, prompted by the decapitation of a dog in a St. Petersburg park, becomes active July 1, 2025, and raises penalties for severe animal cruelty
  • During the signing, DeSantis cradled a puppy to underscore his administration’s commitment to animal welfare
  • Both laws come into force just as the 2025 hurricane season begins, aiming to protect pets from abandonment in emergencies