Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed into effect two major pieces of legislation that seem to have universal approval on Wednesday morning, in a move to provide greater protection to animal welfare within the state of Florida.
Both Dexter’s Law and Trooper’s Law have their origins in recent high-profile incidents of animal cruelty in Florida that have drawn the public’s attention to this issue.
Dexter’s Law or Florida House Bill 255 aims to strengthen penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and ensure offenders face appropriate criminal penalties.
It also expands on current law to create Florida’s first animal abuser database to prevent further abuse by prohibiting offenders from owning pets. It also recognizes animal’s actual victims in the cases they are involved in. Under this law, abusers could face significant prison time.
Dexter’s Law is named in honor of Dexter, a four-year-old rescue dog who was decapitated shortly after being adopted by Domingo Rodriguez, who was convicted of aggravated animal cruelty. The story shed light on some legislative holes Dexter’s Law seeks to address. Supporters of the bill believe that public rallies paired with advocacy played a vital role in pushing prosecutors to pursue the case.
Gov. DeSantis also signed Trooper’s Law (Florida Senate Bill 150).
Trooper’s Law focuses on animal welfare during emergencies, making abandoning a restrained animal during a natural disaster or evacuation a third-degree felony. Offenders could be punished with up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Additionally, Trooper’s Law defines penalties for failing to provide confined animals with sufficient food, water, and exercise, and for abandoning an animal as a misdemeanor.
Trooper’s Law has been named after a now famous dog that was found abandoned and tied to a pole alongside I-75 during Hurricane Milton.
Troopers of the Florida Highway Patrol came across the dog and saw that he was tied to a pole and standing in a puddle that was up to his chest, they quickly rescued him.
Police eventually found the dog’s owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, who told investigators that he was fleeing from the hurricane to Georgia. However, he says, he couldn’t find anyone to look after his dog “Jumbo,” so he left him on the side of the road.
Jumbo has since been renamed “Trooper,” in honor of his rescuer, and he has been given a clean bill of health. Garcia has currently been with aggravated animal cruelty and is awaiting trial.
Though only one of these stories may have had a happy ending, they have both paved the path for a more humane future in Florida.
As Governor DeSantis said, “I was proud to sign Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law today. Florida stands by man’s best friend.”
Trooper’s Law goes into effect starting July 1st, while Dexter’s Law and its accompanying database go into effect on Jan 1st 2026.