Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two animal welfare bills into law on Tuesday, including measures aimed at increasing penalties for animal cruelty offenses and expanding consumer protections involving the sale of dogs and cats in Florida.
DeSantis signed HB 559 and SB 1004 during a press conference at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee, alongside Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder and CEO Laurie Simmons.
HB 559 creates new felony offenses for adults who involve minors in aggravated animal cruelty, animal fighting or baiting offenses, or sexual abuse involving an animal. The law also requires minors convicted of animal cruelty offenses to undergo counseling or treatment, if recommended.
The measure also expands Florida’s animal abuse offender database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and increases civil penalty authority for local governments handling animal cruelty violations.
SB 1004 requires pet dealers to disclose financing agreements before the sale of an animal is finalized and allows consumers to terminate those agreements without penalty if an animal is later found unfit for purchase due to illness or disease.
The law also requires dealers to provide veterinary medical records and treatment history for animals offered for sale and mandates written notice informing consumers of their rights under Florida law.
“The House bill was more about protecting animals directly,” DeSantis said during Tuesday’s signing ceremony. “The Senate bill is more about protecting consumers who want to adopt animals to make sure they’re not being taken advantage of and those transactions are good.”
DeSantis framed the legislation as part of a broader series of animal welfare measures signed during his administration, including laws involving emergency medical care for injured K-9s, increased penalties for harming working animals, Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law.
Simmons called the legislation “an important beginning step” toward stronger breeder accountability measures in Florida.
Simmons also announced a statewide animal cruelty hotline operated by Big Dog Ranch Rescue that will allow Floridians to report suspected animal abuse and neglect. The hotline is expected to launch in July.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue has also been part of another high-profile dog welfare case in recent weeks. The Loxahatchee rescue is helping rehome about 1,000 beagles released from Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin facility that bred dogs for research.
HB 559 takes effect Oct. 1, while SB 1004 takes effect July 1.
