Senate Bill 150, also known as “Trooper’s Law,” will impose harsher punishments directed towards the prevention of animal abandonment.
The bill was sponsored by Florida Senator Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and his chamber unanimously approved the bill.
Provided the House also approves the legislation and it is signed by the governor, those who restrain and abandon dogs outdoors during a natural disaster will be prosecuted. The penalties for these offenses have drastically increased, ranging from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
Concerns arose last October when Trooper, a 5-year-old bull terrier, was found moments before the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. During mandatory evacuations in Tampa, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper found the bull terrier tied to a fence alongside Interstate 75 with water up to his chest. Trooper was then evacuated before Hurricane Milton made landfall.
Aldama Garcia, the owner of Trooper, was later identified and arrested for animal abandonment. He was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
In October, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reinstated the importance of strict penalties for animal cruelty during a press conference at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
“You don’t just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm. Totally unacceptable. We’re going to hold you accountable,” DeSantis said. “I’m proud to announce authorities have identified the dog’s former owners, and State Attorney Suzy Lopez is now pursuing animal cruelty charges against the individual,” DeSantis added.
After weeks of living with a foster family, Trooper was adopted by a couple in Parkland, late last year.
According to U.S. News and World Report, as of 2021, Florida is among the states facing the most natural disasters annually.
Florida is prone to tornadoes, wildfires, droughts and floods. The state is especially prone to hurricanes due to its proximity to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
During hurricane season, between the months of June and November, Florida may face one to two devastating hurricanes. Troopers’ Law works to ensure the safety of animals when these natural disasters occur.
Several animal welfare organizations and public advocacy groups have publicly supported Trooper’s Law as it travels through legislation. The Humane Society of the United States, or HSUS, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the prevention of animal cruelty through a variety of programs and initiatives, has been vocal in advocating for Trooper’s Law.
Alongside HSUS, animal advocacy organizations like the Florida Animal Control Association, The Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association and the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida have also advocated for tougher laws surrounding animal neglect, abuse and abandonment through public statements and petitions.
According to a mission statement published to the official website of the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association, the organization’s mission has always been in favor of animal rights.
“The FAPAA aims to improve the methods and standards of the animal control and protection profession while informing the public of the importance of work performed by these professionals,” the official site states.
Senate Bill 150 has now moved to the House of Representatives, where it was introduced as House Bill 205 by Representative Philip Wayne Griffitts, Jr., who highlighted the intentional purposes of the bill.
“We must do everything in our power to protect animals in times of crisis, and that means holding people accountable when they abandon pets,” Griffitts said.
If this bill is passed and signed into law, it will go into effect in October of 2025.