Latest news with #PamelaRock
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Owners of 'Dangerous Dogs' Could Be Hit With Strict New Fines in Florida
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Florida lawmakers have approved a new bill targeting the owners of so-called dangerous dogs, paving the way for stricter fines and insurance restrictions in cases of serious attacks. Why It Matters The bill represents a significant tightening of oversight on "dangerous dogs" and their owners in Florida. It came after a 62-year-old Putnam County mail carrier, Pamela Rock, was mauled to death by five dogs when her truck broke down in the Interlachen Lake Estates area in 2022, SpectrumNews13 reported. The bill "can't stop every attack, but it will save lives, protect good dogs and hold negligent owners accountable," state Representative Judson Sapp, who helped introduce the bill, told the House State Affairs Committee in April. A Beware of the Dog sign at a house purchased by Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani on May 22, 2024, in La Canada Flintridge, California. A Beware of the Dog sign at a house purchased by Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani on May 22, 2024, in La Canada Flintridge, California. AP What To Know Lawmakers passed CS/HB 593, the Dangerous Dogs Bill, in a unanimous vote in the House and the Senate on requires owners of dogs declared dangerous to register them, to keep them penned and carry liability insurance of at least $100,000. The bill establishes a clear protocol for identifying, registering and regulating dogs deemed dangerous under state law. It expands local governments' authority to enforce containment rules and strengthens the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' role in maintaining a centralized registry of dangerous dogs. Under the new legislation, if an owner fails to follow containment or signage regulations, and the dog attacks someone, the incident would be treated as a third-degree felony. Previously, such attacks were typically prosecuted as misdemeanors unless they resulted in death. Republican state Representative Judson Sapp and Republican state Senator Jay Collins introduced the bill. What People Are Saying Representative Judson Sapp, in a statement: "This bill was brought to me by the Rock family after the tragic death of Pamela Rock—a constituent of mine and a rural mail carrier. Pamela was brutally attacked and killed by a pack of dogs with a known history of aggression. Her loss is a stark reminder of the need for stronger protections. "We have to remember that they are animals, and just like a human animal, there are inherently bad and inherently good, but I do think bad behavior of owners definitely can turn a good dog bad." What Happens Next Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming weeks. Once enacted, the new rules would take effect on July 1, giving local governments time to update registries and inform residents of the new requirements.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida House proposes bill to tackle dangerous dog attacks
A proposal to require owners of dangerous dogs to carry liability insurance and implant microchips in the animals is headed to the full Florida House. The House State Affairs Committee approved the proposal (HB 593) on Thursday, which stems from the 2022 death of Pamela Rock, a 61-year-old mail carrier who was mauled by five dogs that escaped from a fenced-in yard after her truck broke down on a dirt road in Putnam County. to require owners of dangerous dogs to carry liability insurance and implant microchips in the animals is headed to the full Florida House who represents Putnam County, said. 'We can do better. And we will.' The bill defines dangerous dogs, based on criteria such as whether they have attacked people. Owners of such dogs would be required to maintain liability insurance of $100,000 and have microchips implanted in the animals. T hese microchips can be used to locate dogs. The bill would make it a third-degree felony to remove the microchips. An identical bill (SB 572) must clear the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee before it can proceed to the full Senate. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
