Title: Abandoning Restrained Dogs During Natural Disasters

Summary: Prohibits restraining dog outside during natural disaster & thereafter abandoning dog.

Full Text:
An act relating to abandoning restrained dogs during natural disasters; providing a short title; amending s. 828.13, F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting restraining a dog outside during a natural disaster and thereafter abandoning the dog; providing criminal penalties; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. This act may be cited as "Troop er's Law." Section 2. Section 828.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 828.13 Confinement of animals without sufficient food, water, or exercise; abandonment of animals.-(1) As used in this section: (a) "Abandon" means to forsake an animal entirely or to neglect or refuse to provide or perform the legal obligations for care and support of an animal by its owner. (b) "Natural disaster" means a situation in which a hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado warning has been issued for a municipal ity or a county by the National Weather Service, or the municipality or county is under a mandatory or voluntary evacuation order. (c)(b) "Owner" includes any owner, custodian, or other CS/HB 2025 hb205-01-c1 FL OR I DA HO US EO FR EP RE SE NT A TI VE Sperson in charge of an animal. (d) "Restrain" means to attach a do gto a stationary object or trolley system by way of a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device. (2) Whoever: (a) Impounds or confines any animal in any place and fails to supply the animal during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water, (b) Keeps any animals in any enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air, or (c) Abandons to die any animal that is maimed, sick, infirm, or diseased, commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine.(3) Any person who is the owner or possessor, or has charge or custody, of any animal who abandons such ani mal to suffer injury or malnutrition or abandons any animal in a street, road, or public place without providing for the care, sustenance, protection, and shelter of such animal commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine.(4) Any person who restrains a dog outside during a CS/HB 2025 hb205-01-c1 FL OR I DA HO US EO FR EP RE SE NT A TI VE Snatural disaster, and thereafter abandons the dog, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided i ns. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2025.