TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida bill under consideration by lawmakers would establish a public animal abuse registry to help keep offenders from owning pets in the future.
The bill (SB 494) would require that the state Department of Law Enforcement post such a registry on its website, including the names of people who were convicted of or pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.
- Overworking or overloading an animal
- Unnecessarily mutilating or killing an animal
- Depriving an animal of necessary shelter or sustenance
- Intentionally tripping or lassoing the legs of a horse for entertainment
In effect, the legislation would give adoption shelters and pet breeders a way to screen prospective pet owners, which could help improve the ability of these groups to find safe homes for these animals.
The bill’s sponsor — state Sen. Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) — was also responsible for introducing another piece of legislation in 2018 designed to protect pets, dubbed “Ponce’s Law.”…