Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in South Florida on Wednesday.
Trooper’s Law, effective October 1, makes it a third-degree felony to restrain or abandon a dog during a natural disaster, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The law was inspired by a bull terrier left tied to a fence in floodwaters during Hurricane Milton, rescued by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in a widely viewed social media video.
Dexter’s Law, effective July 1, introduces harsher penalties for severe animal abuse cases through a sentencing multiplier and mandates the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to publicly list violators.
Named after a dog found decapitated in Pinellas County shortly after adoption, the law addresses cases like that of Domingo Rodriguez, convicted for the brutal killing. “Florida will not tolerate cruelty to animals, especially in times of crisis,” DeSantis stated, emphasizing the state’s commitment to protecting pets. Nothing further at this time.
