Florida animal laws, explained

Florida has some of the strongest animal-protection laws in the country, and they have changed a lot in the last two years. This guide explains the main state laws in plain language, the new ones Governor Ron DeSantis signed in 2025 and 2026, and the extra rules that apply in Miami-Dade County.

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked statute or talk to a lawyer about a specific situation.

The laws at a glance

Animal cruelty and aggravated cruelty

Florida's main cruelty law is section 828.12 (opens in a new tab).

Animal cruelty covers anyone who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, unnecessarily mutilates, or kills an animal. It is a first-degree misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $5,000, jail, or both.

Aggravated animal cruelty is an intentional act that results in a cruel death, or in excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering. It is a third-degree felony, with a fine of up to $10,000, prison, or both.

Extra rules for the worst cases:

• Intentional torture that injures, mutilates or kills an animal carries a minimum $2,500 fine and required psychological counseling or anger management.
• A second or later conviction carries a minimum $5,000 fine and at least 6 months of incarceration.
• A court can ban a convicted person from owning or keeping animals for a period of time.

Neglect and abandonment

Under section 828.13 (opens in a new tab), it is a crime to confine an animal without enough good food and water, or without exercise and a change of air. It is also a crime to abandon an animal to suffer injury or malnutrition, or to leave it in a street, road or public place without care, protection and shelter.

The law defines "abandon" broadly: it includes neglecting or refusing to provide the care the owner is legally required to give. These offenses are first-degree misdemeanors with a fine of up to $5,000.

Pets in hot cars

The statutes above do not create a separate "hot car" crime for pets. But confining an animal without water or air, or depriving it of necessary shelter, can fall under the cruelty and confinement laws depending on the facts.

Florida's Good Samaritan law

Section 768.139 (opens in a new tab) protects you from civil liability for damage to a car when you rescue a domestic animal (or a vulnerable person) from it. You must do all five of these things:

1. Make sure the car is locked or there is no reasonable way for the animal to get out.
2. Have a good-faith, reasonable belief that the animal is in imminent danger and that entering is necessary.
3. Make sure law enforcement is notified or 911 is called before you enter, or immediately after.
4. Use no more force than necessary to get in and get the animal out.
5. Stay with the animal in a safe place near the car until police or another first responder arrives.

Practical tip: call 911 first, take a photo or video of the scene, and stay put.

Tethering and natural disasters (Trooper's Law)

Since October 1, 2025, it is a third-degree felony to restrain a dog outside during a natural disaster and then abandon it, with a fine of up to $10,000 (828.13 (opens in a new tab)).

• "Restrain" means attaching a dog to a stationary object or trolley system with a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable or similar device.
• "Natural disaster" means the National Weather Service has issued a hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning for the city or county, or the area is under a mandatory or voluntary evacuation order.

In plain terms: if a storm warning or evacuation order is in effect, never leave a dog tied up and go. Take your dog with you. Our hurricane plan for pets can help.

State law has no general, everyday tethering ban, but Miami-Dade does. See Miami-Dade extras below.

Laws Governor DeSantis signed in 2025 and 2026

2025: Trooper's Law (CS/SB 150)

• Signed: May 28, 2025 (Chapter 2025-101)
• Effective: October 1, 2025
• What it does: makes restraining a dog outside during a natural disaster and then abandoning it a third-degree felony, as described above.
• The bill passed both chambers unanimously. Bill page (opens in a new tab)

2025: Dexter's Law (CS/HB 255)

• Signed: May 28, 2025 (Chapter 2025-102)
• Effective: July 1, 2025
• What it does: adds a sentencing multiplier for certain aggravated animal cruelty offenses, so convictions lead to tougher sentences, and requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to post the names of people convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses on its website.
• Under section 828.12, FDLE began posting this searchable information on January 1, 2026. You can search it on FDLE's animal cruelty database (opens in a new tab). Bill page (opens in a new tab)

2026: Animal welfare (CS/HB 559)

• Signed: May 12, 2026 (Chapter 2026-78)
• Effective: October 1, 2026
• What it does:
  • Creates new third-degree felonies for adults who cause or entice a minor to commit, or who commit in a minor's presence, aggravated animal cruelty, animal fighting or baiting, or sexual activities involving animals.
  • Raises the severity ranking for animal fighting from level 1 to level 5 in Florida's sentencing code, which means tougher sentences.
  • Requires juvenile courts to order a psychological evaluation for a minor who commits animal cruelty.
  • Sets how long names stay in the FDLE database: 3 years for a first misdemeanor, 5 years for a first felony, 10 years for later convictions, with a petition process to remove overturned or sealed convictions.
  • Raises the maximum civil penalty for breaking a local animal control ordinance from $500 to $2,500 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second and $7,500 for a third or later. Final bill analysis (opens in a new tab)

2026: Domestic animals and pet sales (CS/SB 1004)

• Signed: May 12, 2026 (Chapter 2026-76)
• Effective: July 1, 2026
• What it does:
  • Gives buyers 30 days instead of 14 after a vet finds a dog or cat unfit for sale to use their rights under the pet lemon law, and 7 business days instead of 2 to notify the dealer.
  • Requires dealers to disclose all financing terms before the sale, and lets a financing agreement end without penalty if the animal is unfit because of illness or disease.
  • Requires dealers to give buyers copies of medical records and keep them for 7 years.
  • Requires FDLE to add more detail about people convicted of animal cruelty to its website by January 1, 2027.
  • Directs the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to create voluntary best practices for dog breeders. Summary (opens in a new tab)

Both 2026 bills passed the Legislature unanimously.

Buying a puppy or kitten: the pet lemon law

Section 828.29 (opens in a new tab) protects people who buy dogs and cats from a pet dealer.

• Puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old cannot be offered for sale.
• Each animal for sale needs an official certificate of veterinary inspection listing vaccines and deworming and stating it shows no sign of contagious disease.
• If a vet certifies the animal is unfit because of illness, disease or parasites (now within 30 days, see SB 1004), or a congenital or hereditary disorder (within 1 year), you can generally return it for a refund, exchange it, or keep it and be reimbursed for vet costs.
• Act fast: deadlines to notify the dealer are short, so get your new pet to a vet right away and keep every record.

Adopting from a shelter or rescue? See Adopt, don't shop.

Rabies vaccination

Under section 828.30 (opens in a new tab), all dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months or older must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed vet (or certain animal control staff under vet supervision). The vet gives you a certificate. A pet can be exempt only if a vet certifies in writing that the vaccine would endanger its health. Breaking this rule is a civil infraction.

Dangerous dogs

Florida's dangerous dog law is in Chapter 767 (opens in a new tab). A dog can be classified as dangerous if, according to animal control records, it:

• aggressively bit, attacked or endangered a person, or severely injured one;
• more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal while off the owner's property; or
• when unprovoked, chased or approached a person in public in a menacing way (confirmed by a sworn statement and an investigation).

Owners get written notice and 7 days to request a hearing. If the classification becomes final, the owner must register the dog every year, post warning signs, microchip the dog, keep it in a proper enclosure, keep it muzzled and leashed in public, and carry $100,000 in liability insurance.

If a dog already classified as dangerous attacks without provocation, the owner faces a first-degree misdemeanor, or a second-degree felony if a person is severely injured or killed. Local rules cannot target dogs by breed, weight or size.

Animal fighting

Section 828.122 (opens in a new tab) makes it a third-degree felony to breed, train, transport, sell, own or use an animal for fighting or baiting, to promote or bet on a fight, to own or sell fighting equipment, or even to attend a fight. When a court finds probable cause, it must order the animals and equipment seized. As of October 1, 2026, involving a minor is a separate felony (HB 559).

Sexual abuse of animals

Section 828.126 (opens in a new tab) makes sexual contact with animals, and creating or distributing related material, a third-degree felony. The court must order the person not to own, keep or live with animals, or work or volunteer where animals are present, for up to 5 years after conviction. Accepted husbandry and veterinary practices are excluded.

Miami-Dade extras

• Dog license: every dog over 4 months old in Miami-Dade needs a county dog license tag, with proof of rabies vaccination. Fees are $30 a year for spayed or neutered dogs and $60 for unaltered dogs, with 3-year options and low-income discounts. Buy one at a vet, the Pet Adoption and Protection Center, a 311 Service Center or by mail. County license page (opens in a new tab)
• Tethering: the county code allows a dog to be tethered only if all conditions are met, including: the owner is outside and in sight of the dog; the tether is at least 5 times the dog's body length and attached to a buckle collar or harness at least 1 inch wide; the dog has water, shelter and dry ground; the dog is at least 6 months old and not sick or injured; and it is not extreme weather (extreme heat, near-freezing temperatures, thunderstorms, tornadoes, tropical storms or hurricanes). Sec. 5-21 (opens in a new tab)

How to report cruelty in Miami-Dade

• Cruelty happening right now: call 911.
• Non-emergency cruelty or neglect: Miami-Dade Animal Services at 311 or 305-468-5900, or the Animal Welfare Concern form at 311.miamidade.gov.
• Tethering concerns: 311 or 305-743-7433.
• A dog without food, water or shelter: 305-476-5423.

Give as much detail as you can: the location, what you saw, a description of the animal, and photos. Miami-Dade Animal Services (opens in a new tab) For a step-by-step guide, see Reporting animal cruelty in Miami-Dade.