Latest news with #Ponce'sLaw
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida enacts Dexter's and Trooper's Law to combat animal abuse
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — Two new state laws aimed at protecting animals and increasing accountability for abusers are set to take effect in Florida, following the recent signing of Dexter's Law and Trooper's Law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Dexter's Law, named after a dog found brutally decapitated and stuffed into a plastic bag days after being adopted in 2023, strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and creates Florida's first-ever public registry of convicted animal abusers. The law takes effect July 1. The measure introduces a 1.25 sentencing multiplier in cases of aggravated animal cruelty and requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to maintain a searchable database identifying individuals convicted of such offenses. Supporters say the law is a critical tool for transparency, deterrence, and prevention. 'Making the identities of convicted abusers public will empower shelters, rescue groups, and adopters to protect vulnerable animals,' said Doll Stanley, Justice for Animals Campaign Director for In Defense of Animals. 'Dexter's Law is justice for Dexter — and a powerful safeguard for other animals statewide.' In Defense of Animals, a national nonprofit, led advocacy efforts with more than 14,000 signatures pushing for justice in Dexter's case and over 1,000 Floridians contacting lawmakers to demand legislative change. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Linda Chaney, Sen. Tom Leek, and Rep. Meg Weinberger, and championed by Port Orange resident Debbie Darino, also behind 2018's Ponce's Law. Gov. DeSantis also signed Trooper's Law, which makes it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outdoors during a declared natural disaster or mandatory evacuation. Named after a bull terrier rescued by Florida Highway Patrol during Hurricane Milton, the law goes into effect Oct. 1. The new laws are especially relevant to the Tampa Bay area, where hurricanes and tropical storms are regular threats. Local animal advocates say Trooper's Law could be lifesaving for pets and first responders alike during future emergencies. 'These are commonsense protections that reflect how seriously Floridians value the safety of animals,' said Amy Rondeau, a longtime Tampa Bay volunteer with rescue organizations. 'Trooper's Law will encourage more people to think twice before leaving dogs behind when a storm hits.' Experts note that these laws go beyond animal welfare. Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, a psychiatrist and president of In Defense of Animals, says cruelty to animals often correlates with human violence. 'Dexter's Law is not just about protecting dogs — it's a public safety measure,' Kroplick said. 'Identifying abusers can help prevent further trauma and violence in our communities.' With the enactment of both laws, Florida becomes one of the few states with a public animal abuse registry — a move animal rights groups hope other states will emulate. For Tampa Bay residents, the laws offer reassurance that abusers will face greater consequences and that pets, particularly during the state's tumultuous hurricane season, will have stronger protections. More information and resources are available through In Defense of Animals at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida animal abusers may soon show up on a statewide list. What to know about SB 494
In 2015, an Ocala man pleaded guilty to three counts of cruelty to animals after stabbing and beating his then-girlfriend's dog, Molly, the previous year. The dog suffered a fractured skull and three stab wounds to the head. Molly survived and became the namesake of Molly's Law, an ordinance adopted in Marion County that established a public registry listing people convicted in the county of animal cruelty-related crimes to allow residents, pet sellers and rescue organizations to make sure they are not placing an animal with an animal abuser. A bill in this year's legislative session would make a similar registry statewide, much like the sex offender registry. 'Most notably, such access is critical to animal adoption organizations to ensure that perpetrators are disqualified as recipients of animals seeking placement,' said Sen. Tom Leek, R-St. Augustine, who filed the bill in the Senate. Molly, an American boxer mix who became a beloved ambassador for animal rights, died in 2023 at the age of 15. SB 494, Animal Cruelty is very short. It simply adds this requirement to state animal cruelty laws: "Beginning January 1, 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement shall post on its website, in a searchable format prescribed by the department, the names of those individuals who have been convicted of, or who have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of this section." An identical bill, HB 455, was filed in the House by Rep. Meg Weinberger, R-Palm Beach Gardens. It doesn't go quite as far as Molly's Law, which also fines offenders an extra amount to cover the costs of the registry, requires them to notify the county if they move or change their name, and blocks them from owning or working with animals or living in the same residence as one. There are currently 11 or 12 Florida counties with animal abuse registries, SPCA of Ocala President Lilly Baron (and the person who adopted Molly) told but they are not consistent, with different data and different periods of time for offenders to stay listed. Florida dogfighting law: Florida man gets 7 years for dogfighting. What is Florida, federal law? How to spot signs Hillsborough County started one just before Marion did. Volusia County added one after Ponce's Law — named after a 9-month-old Labrador puppy was beaten to death in Ponce Inlet — strengthened the severity of animal-abuse-related crimes and allowed judges to bar people convicted of animal cruelty from owning pets. 'The registry is the thing that's going to be the kicker, make the difference throughout the state," Baron said. Leek also filed SB 502, which would strengthen penalties of anyone convicted of animal cruelty toward a domestic animal as a primary offense. In 2018, he was the primary sponsor of the House version of Ponce's Law. According to Florida statutes: It's a first-degree misdemeanor to unnecessarily overload, overdrive, torment, starve, mutilate, or kill any animal, or to carry them in a cruel or inhumane manner, punishable by up to a year in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000. A person who intentionally excessively or repeatedly hurts an animal or kills one, or has custody or control of the animal and fails to prevent excessive pain or death, commits animal cruelty, a felony of the third degree, punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. If the person is found to have intentionally tortured or tormented the animal leading to injuries, mutilation or death must pay a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program on first offense. On second or subsequent offenses, it's a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and a minimum mandatory six months in prison without eligibility of parole. A person committing multiple acts of cruelty on an animal, or acts of cruelty on multiple animals, may be charged for each individual offense. It's a third-degree felony to intentionally trip, fell, rope or lasso the legs of a horse for entertainment or sport purposes. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida animal cruelty registry bill would be similar to Molly's Law
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
The fight for 'Dexter's Law' heads to Tallahassee
The Brief Animal activists are pushing for 'Dexter's Law' in the upcoming Florida legislative session. Dexter's Law treats animals as actual victims, if the crime committed against them is particularly horrific. The law is meant to honor a dog named Dexter, who was adopted by 66-year-old Domingo Rodriguez, to be found just four days later decapitated, according to PCSO. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Animal activists are pushing for 'Dexter's Law' in the upcoming Florida legislative session in honor of Dexter, a dog found decapitated shortly after it was adopted. Last May, 66-year-old Domingo Rodriguez was accused of adopting Dexter from Pinellas County Animal Services. According to court documents, four days later, Dexter's decapitated body was found by Pinellas County deputies in a bag, dumped in the water at Fort De Soto Park. WATCH: St. Pete man accused of killing dog pleads not guilty The backstory According to PCSO, surveillance video showed Rodriguez at the park with a cooler one day after the 4-year-old dog was adopted. Dexter's microchip led deputies to Rodriguez, who denied everything. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man decapitates newly adopted dog, dumps body in Fort DeSoto Park: PCSO In court last August, Rodriguez pleaded 'Not Guilty.' After multiple 'Justice for Dexter' rallies, one activist is now taking things to Tallahassee. Dig deeper Daytona-based paralegal Deb Darino is spearheading 'Dexter's Law.' "Dexter, they find his body cut up in a plastic bag, and his head has been decapitated. Like, who does that? Really sick people do that," Darino said. Darino was behind Ponce's Law in 2018, legislation that allows a judge to bar offenders convicted of Aggravated Animal Abuse, a 3rd-degree felony, from owning pets. READ: Ponce's Law toughens animal abuse penalties It also increases the severity ranking of animal abuse-related crimes. "The difference between Dexter's Law and Ponce's Law (is that) Ponce's Law is a really bad animal abuse case, but Dexter's is a horrific case," Darino said. Right now, the Florida Statute states if an offender is convicted of Aggravated Animal Abuse toward a domestic animal as the primary offense, the offense scores 28 points on the criminal punishment scoresheet. WATCH: Governor signs animal abuse law With Dexter's Law, if the crime is especially horrific, animals are treated as actual victims. "We made Dexter's Law where we could add a multiplier into it. What the multiplier does, which is a 1.25 (multiplier), you multiply that (by) 28. Which is the felony animal cruelty points, Ponce's Law, and that will give you Dexter's points," Darino said. Under Dexter's Law, offenders score 35 points at minimum. Forty-four points typically guarantee prison time. What they're saying The bill is being sponsored in the Senate by Florida State Senator Tom Leek (SB 502) and in the House by Representative Linda Chaney (HB 255), who said the legislation is long overdue. "We have to stop thinking, 'Well, it's just a dog.' We have to look at this as cruel and abhorrent behavior that we can't have in our communities," Chaney said. Going into the upcoming March legislative session, Chaney said she feels confident the bill will garner support. "I'm hoping that my fellow legislators will not only see this as an animal protection bill but as a public safety issue, and I believe that they will," Chaney said. With support from Darino, State Senator Leek and Representative Meg Weinberger are also sponsoring bills that would create a public database on the FDLE website of animal cruelty offenders. "So, if you're convicted of animal cruelty, your name goes into the database. It's not a registry. You're not signing up, and you're not doing anything," Darino said. READ: Multiple animals seized from Frostproof home, owner arrested: Deputies Darino continued, "Every day, the Clerk of Courts records for Animal Cruelty go to the FDLE website in a storage area. What we want them to do is put a link on their website and move those cases over to that link." Rodriguez is out on bond. The case is slated to go to trial in the coming weeks. "If something happens, and we don't like the way it ends up, we want to make sure Dexter is never forgotten. His name will always be a law. We will always remember what happened to Dexter," Darino said. For more information, click here. The Source FOX 13's Jennifier Kveglis collected the information for this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
